The Main Man

STRONG winds don’t win matches, but goals do . . . and when three players loaded with intercounty experience managed to hit the net on the same afternoon, it was clear from quite a long way out that Portumna were going to extend their county final dominance over old rivals Loughrea on Bank Holiday Monday afternoon.

It was an occasion tinged with sadness, due to the tragic and untimely death of Galway star Niall Donohue the previous Wednesday night, and the young Kilbeacanty defender was never far from the Portumna players’ thoughts even as they celebrated their sixth county title in 11 seasons.

For a club who had never won anything at senior level prior to 2003, that is a pretty remarkable achievement – and there was genuine joy among their ranks after waiting four years to get back to the county final.

So much for the theory that Portumna have become a ‘spent force’ with the passing years. In many ways, Loughrea have bridged the gap which was so apparent between these sides in the 2003, 2005, and 2009 deciders, and on Bank Holiday Monday they virtually matched the new champions in terms of possession, chances, and the number of scores (15 to 14).

The difference this time, though, was that Portumna found the knack of hitting key goals at key times, each of them from men who have an abundance of experience of playing with Galway – Andy Smith, Joe Canning, and Damien Hayes.

Facing into a strong, tricky cross-wind, on a day when Canning hit an uncharacteristic five wides, the Shannonsiders received a timely early boost when Canning had the guts to go for a goal from a 21 metre free after just eight minutes. That gave them a 1-2 to 0-1 free.

Loughrea rallied, with some fine scores by the likes of Johnny O’Loughlin, Jamie Ryan, and young free-taker Neil Keary, but all of their hard work was wiped out when Man of the Match Smith produced a sublime strike to the net to put Portumna back in front nine minutes before half-time.

Smith was a revelation on Monday, battling for the ball, feeding team-mates, and hitting a sublime 1-4 over the hour. It was one of the 30-year old’s finest ever performances in a yellow and blue jersey, a decade on from his Man of the Match performance in his first ever county final back in 2003.

By the time the teams returned to the dressing-rooms under the stand, they were deadlocked at 2-5 to 0-11 . . . and the advantage was very much with Frank Canning’s men given the strength of the Atlantic gale blowing across Pearse Stadium.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.