Match Reports

Galway SHC: Portumna 5-12 Kiltormer 1-09

Portumna began the defence of their County, Connacht and All-Ireland Titles on Sunday in a very well appointed and sunny Killimor. With injuries to Eugene McEntee and Micheal Ryan and Peter Smith on peace-keeping duties in Chad, John O'Flaherty was introduced at full-back, Eoin Lynch relocated to centre-back, Aidan O'Donnell resumed after injury in his customary half-back position and Ciaran Ryan brought in at centre-field. The attack remained unchanged from that which brought All-Ireland honours on St. Patrick's Day.
Kiltormer had drawn with Carnmore the previous weekend and when Sarsfields and Turloughmore also played out a draw the other four teams in the group were locked on one point each after the opening round. Games between Portumna and Kiltormer are usually physical affairs and this was no different. No quarter was asked or given in the opening quarter. Andrew Smith gained possession from a break from the throw-in, was fouled and Joe Canning was the first on the scoreboard with the pointed free. Conor Ryan replied almost immediately from a free for Kiltormer and David Hayes forced a save from Ivan Canning, before Jason Kilkenny put Kiltormer 0-2 to 0-1 in front and then Conor Ryan pointed another free to give them a two point advantage and early dominance.
Both Joe Canning and Micheal Greaney exchanged wides before Conor Ryan had another point from a free for Kiltormer but Joe Canning quickly reduced the deficit from halfway after Ciaran Ryan was fouled. Conor Ryan shot a good score from about forty yards to restore the lead but from then on Portumna lifted their game a gear. Damien hayes won possession out near the corner flag and with one of his jinking runs, got inside the corner-back and left the Kiltormer goalkeeper no chance with a rasper straight across his goal. Kiltormer managed to level with another Conor Ryan effort but Portumna were in their stride. Joe Canning gave a magnificent pass to Kevin Hayes, who pointed from play, and when a bad foul on Niall Hayes on his way through got a free but little else from referee Joe Larkin, Joe himself put a goal between the sides.
He was again on the mark from a free he earned himself but missed with a new hurl from a placed ball after Andrew Smith was fouled. The foul on Andrew prompted an outburst of aggression from both sides which I feel would have been avoided if the referee had given a minimum of a ticking, if not a yellow card for the earlier foul on Niall Hayes. At half time the score read 1-6 to 0-5 and on the evidence of the game so far, one would have felt that the second-half would have been along the same lines.
On the resumption, however, Portumna meant business. Joe Canning pointed a free almost immediately and Damien Hayes finished a great move via Andrew Smith, with his second goal. Ciaran Ryan batted down a good ball to Niall Hayes whose visionary pass left Joe Canning clear in front of goal 3-7 to 0-5 and a match-winning lead. Mike Gill was black-booked for a simple jersey pull and Conor Ryan had a point from the free on the 20 metre mark. Andrew Smith pointed from another Joe Canning pass and Joe then pointed the first of two inspiring sideline cuts to leave Portumna comfortably ahead 3-9 to 0-6. There was to be no let up. Damien Hayes got his hat-trick when a combination of Eoin Lynch and Leo Smith fed him through and Kiltormer, while trying hard to get into the game, hit three wide, two of them relatively relatively easy chances before David Hayes succeeded with a good solo effort. They reduced the deficit further when Conor Ryan got through to goal and gave Ivan Canning no chance but Joe Canning put the game to bed when he goaled after another interchange between Ciaran Ryan and Niall Hayes. Conor Ryan landed another free but a brace of points from Kevin Hayes were divided by an awesome sideline cut from Joe Canning from over eighty yards that the Kiltormer goalkeeper could only help despairingly on its way over and a Conor Ryan free for Kiltormer. There was a further minor scuffle in the Kiltormer goalmouth late on and further cards furnished but with another point late on from Kiltormer, the game fizzled out to the final whistle.
On the day, the first half was well contested and both sets of backs had their moments. John O' Flaherty proved an able substitute for Eugene McEntee and after a hesitant start, Mike Gill grew into the game and like the unflappable Ollie Canning, made many decisive interceptions and clearances under pressure. The half-back line played well, with Aidan O'Donnell making his welcome return and Eoin Lynch making some fine catches. Gareth Heagney is soundness personified at wing back and Ciaran Ryan and Leo Smith worked tirelessly to tie down centrefield.
There is no doubt, however, that up front is the jewel in Portumna’s crown. Goals win matches and as well as putting five beauties past a helpless Kiltormer goalkeeper, their defensive work ethic when not in possession has to be admired. The Hayes cousins, the Cannings and Andrew Smith are all potential match winners in their own right, but together are the most formidable attacking unit in Galway and will test any backline when on form. Ivan Canning dealt very capably with all thrown at him on the day and was helpless for the Kiltormer goal late in the game.
This was a solid start to the 2008 campaign and Portumna now face Sarsfields in their second Group game this weekend.

Final Score: Portumna 5-12 Kiltormer 1-09

Team: Ivan Canning Mike Gill John O'Flaherty Ollie Canning Gareth Heagney Eoin Lynch Aidan O'Donnell Leo Smith Ciaran Ryan Niall Hayes Kevin Hayes Andrew Smith Damien Hayes Joe Canning David Canning.
Scorers: Joe Canning 2-8, Damien Hayes 3-0, Kevin Hayes 0-3, Andrew Smith 0-1.