Team manager Kelly never doubted the champions

Date Published: 20-Mar-2009

SINCE former midfielder Johnny Kelly returned to the Portumna backroom team, joining Jimmy Heverin as a selector in the wake of the controversial 2006 county final defeat to Loughrea, they have won all 18 championship games under his watch. It’s been a remarkable record from the players, and from a man who clearly has a great knack of keeping his men motivated.
When Heverin retired from the position in the wake of last year’s All-Ireland final triumph over Birr, Kelly’s elevation to manager was seen as a natural progression within the club and he moved swiftly to put his own backroom team (Timmy Walsh, former team-mate Vincent Treacy, and trainer Dinny Cahill) in place.
Since then, their Galway and All-Ireland crowns have never really been threatened and those who speculated that Portumna were on the wane have been forced to eat humble pie as the Shannonsiders stormed to a fourth county title in six years before blitzing a fancied Ballyhale Shamrocks side in last month’s semi-final.