Match Reports

Shannon Oaks SHC Final: Portumna 1-18 Gort 2-07

A week later than originally planned, almost 10,000 spectators turned up in Pearse Stadium Galway to watch All-Ireland Club champions Portumna defend their County title against a young Gort side appearing in their first final in 25 years. While Portumna were appearing in their sixth successive final, they had never managed to retain the title they won for the first time in 2003 and following less than impressive performances, according to the critics in the knock-out stages, Gort were expected to put it up to Portumna.
Forced to line out without full-back Eugene McEntee because of a thigh injury, Portumna recalled Mike Gill to corner-back, with Ollie Canning going to number three and young Martin Dolphin completing the full-back line. With Mike’s return, he completed a unique double, as his father Jackie had also played in six successive finals with the Turloughmore legends of the early sixties. Gort also were a full-back short due to a terrible accident that ruled out Mark McMahon with a serious head injury and we all wish him a full and speedy recovery. Andy Coen took over at full-back and was faced by Joe Canning in a re-arranged Portumna attack.
Gort needed a good start to boost their confidence and following early wides from Kevin Hayes and Joe Canning for Portumna Paul Killilea opened the scoring for Gort with a good point from play and when Ollie Fahy managed to get on the end of a long clearance and got inside Ollie Canning to poach a goal, they led 1-1 to no score and were in the ascendancy. However Portumna now knuckled down to the task in hand and when Niall Hayes was fouled on his way through to goal Joe Canning converted the free. Damien Hayes then added another after cutting in along the sideline and when he was awarded a free when on another run Joe Canning again converted. Ollie Fahy was dangerous up front for Gort and had a point from a tight situation just outside the square but Portumna were finding the extra gear and first Leo Smith put over a fine point following great inter-passing by Niall and Damien Hayes and then Joe Canning landed a sublime score over his shoulder from in front of the stand and the scores were level.
The tide was turning Portumna’s way and though Damien Hayes was wide following a good delivery from his cousin Kevin, he made up for it almost immediately when he sold a dummy to Andy Coen at full-back, tore in along the end-line and his searing shot on goal was deflected over by Peter Cummins in the Gort goal. Niall Hayes was then on target when he was given possession by a ground flick from Leo Smith near the right sideline and Joe Canning cut his customary lineball over from fifty plus metres on the same side. Portumna were edging ahead and Joe pointed another free when Damien Hayes was again fouled close-in. Gort responded with a Gerry Quinn free from his own half following a very harsh decision against Joe Canning but it was quickly cancelled out by a point by Niall Hayes from play. Portumna had a narrow escape when Ollie Canning got away with an act of grand larceny on the Gort corner forward on the point of striking for goal but Quinn again pointed a Gort free. He was yellow-carded for a high tackle on Ollie Canning as was Eoin Lynch for retaliation.
Gort replaced their wing-back Niall Forde with Michael Cummins in an effort to stem the flow of the Portumna forwards. The pressure continued however and Joe Canning was wide from far out when Ollie was fouled by Ollie Fahy but when the opposite happened before half-time and the free was brought forward, Gerry Quinn stepped up and struck a scorcher to the back of the Portumna net. This levelled the score coming up to half-time and Portumna got chances from a free for a foul on Kevin Hayes but Joe Canning was wide as was Leo Smith from play and the teams went to the dressing-rooms with the score standing at Portumna 0-10 Gort 2-4.
At half-time Eugene McEntee was introduced for Mike Gill and Ollie Canning reverted to his own corner-back position with deadly effect. Gort again got an opportunity to take the lead after the resumption but Gerry Quinn was wide and when Damien Hayes pointed from play to restore Portumna’s lead they were to stay ahead for the remainder of the game. The decisive score came shortly afterwards when Gort’s goalie Cummins was easily dispossessed on his way out to clear by Andrew Smith and he himself finished a ground ball to the net on his second attempt. A dubious Gort sideline cut led to a point from play for Martin Nestor but Niall Hayes was again fouled on his way through and Joe Canning did the needful from the resultant free. When Gerry Quinn was wide from an easy free after nine minutes and Eoin Lynch caught Gort on the wrong foot with a quickly flicked sideline to Joe Canning while he appeared to stroll over to take it and pointed, Portumna had edged five points ahead. Joe Canning hit the post from a free when Niall Hayes was fouled after a pass from Ciaran Ryan but made no mistake from a similar position when doubly fouled himself.
Greg Lally and Leo Smith exchanged wides over the next few minutes but Gerry Quinn pointed a free after Eoin Lynch was penalised on a throw-in and then Richie Cummins had a brilliant point for Gort having run the gauntlet along the left wing and striking on the run. It was to prove their last score and when Ollie Canning tore out from defence and found himself free, he hopped the ball off the ground to prevent a third catch and then coolly despatched an inspirational point from halfway. There was now no way back for Gort. Martin Moran replaced Niall Linnane for Gort and Darragh Linnane came in for Gerry Quinn but to no avail. Damien Hayes wrong footed the Gort defence again with a quick pass from a sideline to Joe Canning for a further point and then Damien was wide himself after a good run. Portumna were working very hard and following a further foul on Niall Hayes, Joe Canning added the point. Peter Smith replaced Ciaran Ryan on sixty minutes and Damien Hayes completed the scoring with a point from play.
>For the final two minutes Gort bore down on the Portumna goal in an effort to breach the defence for a major. They forced two late 65’s-deflected out by Joe Canning, back, like the rest of his forwards, helping out. It’s a huge feature of this Portumna outfit-the work-rate and ethic of their forwards and centrefield to help their backs when not in possession and again on Sunday they overturned an amount of Gort possession through pure perseverance. Gort relied on the placing of an extra back to try and thwart the Portumna forwards but Portumna managed to get enough scores from out the field and Gort themselves lacked the punch up front to compete.
This was a workmanlike and convincing win for Portumna. Their experience and understanding were big assets on Sunday and are deserving of success on the basis of their sheer hard work and skill levels. They go on to represent Galway in the All-Ireland club series again and hopefully will make a success again of it.
Ivan Canning had a steady hour in goal while Martin Dolphin gave a man of the match display in the corner. Mike Gill found the going difficult on the day but his many, many brilliant performances in the No 2 jersey have given us all great pleasure and will again. Ollie Canning was again a tower of strength, especially when restored to his corner-back position on the introduction of Eugene McEntee to steady the line. The half-back line shone with Micheal Ryan lording it in the centre and Gareth Heagney and Aidan O’Donnell working very hard to complement Ryan and the midfield duo of Leo Smith and Eoin Lynch. It was the half-forwards who stole the show with a display of forward and back play-scoring and hassling that completely upset the Gort rhythm and with Joe Canning’s ability to hit a point at will from a distance or close, the centre or sideline, eventually wore down the Gort challenge. Damien Hayes was entitled to a greater return for a lot of hard work as was Ciaran Ryan in the second half.
Congratulations to Johnny Kelly (manager), to Dinny Cahill (trainer), and Vincent Treacy and Timmy Walsh (selectors).
To Gort, the referee and his officials, the field and organising committee and all who helped to make the County Final a great occasion, we say well done. Finally, we would like to wish Mark McMahon of Gort a complete and quick recovery.

Final Score: Portumna 1-18 Gort 2-07.

Team: I. Canning, M. Gill, O. Canning, M. Dolphin, A. O’Donnell, M. Ryan, G. Heagney, E. Lynch, P. Smith, A Smith, K. Hayes, N. Hayes, D. Hayes, J. Canning, C. Ryan. Subs Used: E. McEntee for M. Gill (half time), P. Smith for C. Ryan (58 mins)