Portumna power to the title

Date Published: 18-Mar-2008

POWERFUL, brimful of energy, and composed . . . not even the concession of two early goals could deflect Portumna from the task in hand as they proved too strong for Offaly and Leinster champions Birr in yesterday’s All-Ireland club hurling final at Croke Park.

In winning their second national title in three years so convincingly, the Galway champions left no doubts concerning their pedigree as the strongest club in Ireland right now. By the end the four times champions were chasing shadows and in disarray.

Despite finding themselves 2-1 to 0-2 down within ten minutes of the throw-in, Portumna never lost their composure and instead outscored their opponents by 1-9 to 0-3 in the remainder of the first half.

Hapless Birr, seeking a record fifth All-Ireland Club title, had rocked them briefly with those early strikes but simply had no answer to the workrate, pace, power, and accuracy of the Galway champions’ attackers.

Portumna are the complete package . . . Joe Canning and Damien Hayes might have the skills, but the work-rate of every one of their attackers was phenomenal yesterday. They might not always…………..