Portumna pulling further clear of the chasing pack

Date Published: {J}

AN OLD score was settled in the most brutal fashion possible at Pearse Stadium on Sunday. County hurling finals aren’t supposed to be like this – a glorified mis-match – but that’s exactly what unfolded as champions Portumna once again underlined the gulf in standard between them and the rest of the championship contenders in Galway.

In fact, their domestic rivals must be wondering when this Portumna team is ever going to be stopped. Appearing in a record-breaking seventh consecutive Galway final and chalking up their fifth title triumph in the process, if anything Johnny Kelly’s charges are pulling further away from the chasing pack.

 They had Sunday’s final done and dusted after only 14 minutes – and all that remained to be determined subsequently was their victory margin.

It is a measure of Portumna’s ongoing dominance that they have now won the last three county finals by an average margin of over 15 points. That is an extraordinary level of dominance by any standards and underlines just how superior they are to any other club in Galway at present. On this form, it’s impossible not to see them making history next Spring by completing the three-in-a-row at All-Ireland level as well.

The unsavoury nature of the 2006 county final between the clubs was the backdrop to last Sunday’s showdown. That was the day when Loughrea magnificently retrieved a nine point deficit against all the odds in a tough and, at times, nasty affair – but since then Portumna haven’t been beaten in championship hurling and they were certainly in no mood to lose this one.

In retrospect, Loughrea didn’t stand a prayer of repeating their shock victory of three years ago. They hadn’t really impressed in the knock-out stages of the title race – taking two attempts to see off both Beagh and Mullagh – while being short the suspended Nigel Shaughnessy and the injured Greg Kennedy really left them short of on-field leadership. It was also hard to escape the conclusion that, as a team, they have declined somewhat from the glory days of 2006.

Still, we had anticipated that Loughrea would at least shove it up to Portumna for long periods of the final but, in the end, they didn’t have either the hurling, legs or physicality to live with the champions despite an encouraging opening. The fit-again Kenneth Colleran gave them the lead in the second minute and they briefly had the early momentum. By the midway juncture of the half, however, Loughrea’s challenge was already dead and buried.

When it comes to goal scoring, Portumna have taken the art to new levels of ruthlessness. They hit Kinvara for six two years ago and banged home only one less last Sunday with corner forward Damien Hayes going to town in assembling a Man of the Match total of 3-3. With Gareth Heganey and Micheal Ryan dominant in the half-back line and Kevin ‘Chunky’ Hayes in top form on the forty, Portumna held all the aces. Of course, the champions also had the considerable added bonus of Joe Canning missing nothing from the placed ball all day . . . apart, that is, from a first-half 60 yards sideline cut. We think he will be forgiven for that.

Though Portumna’s long serving attacker Niall Hayes got his marching orders in the second-half, it is to the credit of both clubs that there was no major acrimony evident between the teams on the day. Sure, there were hard knocks given and taken, but the overall level of sportsmanship in front of a healthy crowd of near 10,000 has helped to partially retrieve the image of Galway hurling after a couple of bad months.

Referee Alan Kelly must be given credit for keeping a firm grip on the action too.

While a comfortable victory for Portumna was the general expectation, few neutrals envisaged that they would put Loughrea to the sword in such a devastating manner. Once Joe Canning goaled from a fourth minute 21yards free – his low, bouncing shot ought to have been saved – the champions took over completely as they built up a commanding interval advantage of 3-10 to 1-6.

It was Damien Hayes who emerged as Loughrea’s tormentor in chief. His first goal typified the player’s well earned reputation for hard work. He had no right to secure possession in the first place, but Hayes’ persistence saw him win the ball from Dermot Melia after hooking the Loughrea corner back – then, he simply pinned the ears back before burying the ball past Stephen Morgan. It was a demoralising score for the challengers to concede.

Worse quickly followed as Hayes again left his marker for dead in careering through for another goal of the highest quality. Only 13 minutes gone and Portumna had already three goals in the bag. Loughrea’s prospects were sinking fast, but they did briefly raise hopes of a comeback when Neil Keary’s run culminated with Johnny Maher, just switched to full forward, rifling the sliothar to the Portumna net in the 18th minute and that score was immediately followed by a point from the subdued Johnny O’Loughlin.

But that was as good as it got for Loughrea as Portumna simply upped the ante again. Canning was missing nothing from frees and with Eoin Lynchy, probably the point of the day, and Kevin Hayes also on target, they were ten clear at the break and, this time, in no danger of being caught. What the game needed was an early second-half Loughrea goal; what we got instead was another Damien Hayes special just 17 seconds in after Andy Smith had put him in the clear.

Loughrea, to their credit, never stopped trying with substitute Emmet Mahony, Johnny Maher and young Keary their main attacking threats, but the team’s defence was being consistently over-run as Martin Dolphin completed the Portumna rout with his team’s fifth goal at the second attempt in the 47th minute. From there to the finish, the champions piled on the agony with the devastating Damien Hayes tacking on three points for good measure to go with his hat-trick of goals.

We are witnessing something special in this Portumna team – surely, the greatest club outfit of the modern era. Of course, they are blessed with an exceptionally talented group of players all emerging around the same time, but it’s the squad’s level of professionalism, work ethic and continuing hunger which really stands them apart. Another team would have been put out by the five week break since their last competitive match, but Portumna just took the inconvenience in their stride.

It underlines the level of experience in their ranks and, frankly, I can’t see Portumna being beaten in Galway in the next couple of years either unless they have a collective off-day. All over the field on Sunday, they were dictating matters and though the Loughrea camp will obviously be deeply disappointed this week that they didn’t put up a better show, the truth of the matter is that they simply weren’t let. There is no shame in that.

JOCKEYS ON FORM

THE big Cheltenham November meeting at the weekend proved a rewarding one for Galway jockeys. Not alone did Ardrahan’s Paddy Brennan end up sharing the leading rider award with Ruby Walsh, but city natives, Graham Lee and Richard Killoran, riding his first ever winner at the spiritual home of National Hunt racing, were on the mark as well.

Brennan, who partnered Pettifour to victory in a three-mile novice chase last Saturday, followed up when producing Khyber Kim with a devastating finishing burst to land Sunday’s feature, the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle. Lee gave bottom weight Gallant Nuit a typically patient ride to land the Servo Trophy Chase on the same card, while the previous day Killoran’s landmark win came on Lord Ragnar in the Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle.

ACCUMULATOR

THERE are a host a big provincial club football matches down for decision this weekend, not least the Connacht Club final clash between Charlestown and Corofin. The following accumulator is recommended: Portlaoise (2/5), Ballyboden (4/11), Kilmurry-Ibrickane (4/11), Kerins O Rahillys (1/3) and Corofin (4/6). On the horse racing front, Triumph Hurdle winner, Zaynar, and Notre Pere – Jim Dreaper’s stable star takes on Kauto Star at Haydock – can land Saturday’s big cross-channel events. In rugby, take Ireland (probably around -20) and New Zealand ( -13) to cover their respective handicaps against Fiji and England.