Portumna are primed for title number three

Date Published: 12-Mar-2009

REIGNING club hurling champions Portumna will lay their national title on the line when they face De La Salle of Waterford in the 2009 All-Ireland club decider at Croke Park on St. Patrick’s Day (2:30 p.m.). Both sides have no injuries to report ahead of the biggest day in club hurling, with all knocks and bruises sustained in the penultimate stages in February having healed up in the interim.

Given the nature of Portumna’s sublime display against Ballyhale Shamrocks in the All-Ireland semi-final, they will be reluctant to change the dynamic of a winning team heading into their third All-Ireland final in four years. Consequently, Ivan Canning will continue to man the posts, while the ever- improving Martin Dolphin, the rock solid fullback Eugene McEntee, and the magnificent Ollie Canning will stand sentry in the fullback line.

In the wing-back berths, Garret Heagney and Aidan O’Donnell will again be deployed. Heagney was so impressive on the ball against Ballyhale, while O’Donnell’s best work was shadowing the prolific Henry Shefflin. Two different games, but each so, so effective. The sturdy Micheál Ryan will anchor the defence from centre-half back.

Eoin Lynch and Leo Smith – who possibly had his best ever performance in a Portumna jersey – will start at midfield, while the half-forward line should comprise of Niall Hayes, Kevin Hayes and the lively Andrew Smith. All three were outstanding in their work-rate against the Kilkenny champions and if they keep the supply lines open to the inside line of Damien Hayes, Joe Canning and Ciaran Ryan again this Tuesday, then, Portumna, without a doubt, will run up a match-winning score.

Still, the Galway champions will be…