Galway Advertiser 2006/2006_02_16/GA_1602_E1_148.pdf 

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148

SPORT

February 16 2006

Rampant Portumna pull out the stops
Portumna (Galway) 2-17 James Stephens (Kilkenny) 0-11
Portumna produced a scintillating performance against Kilkenny champions James Stephens in Semple Stadium on Sunday to book their place in the All Ireland Club Hurling Championship final on St Patrick's Day. James Stephens entered the game as reigning All-Ireland champions and were favourites to advance and retain their crown. Portumna, however, had different ideas. The heartbreak of losing at this same stage two seasons ago propelled them to victory. The Kilkenny men may have been a mere shadow of the side that beat St Mary's Athenry in last year's decider, but nothing can take away from this rampant Portumna side that completely dominated affairs from start to finish. There were question marks over Portumna's defence before this game, buton Sunday the entire Portumna rearguard answered their critics in uncompromising fashion. Ivan Canning pulled off a fantastic save late in the first half to give his side a massive psychological boost entering the break. Ollie Canning, moved from midfield for this game, gave an exhibition of hurling worthy of an All Star, and captain Eugene McEntee produced a magnificent performance at full back. At midfield Leo Smith and Eoin Lynch produced quality displays against the Village duo of Brian McEvoy and Pat O'Brien. Big Kevin Hayes also won possession in the midfield sector which provided Portumna with a solid attacking platform. Thanks to two well-taken frees from corner forward and ace marksman Joe Canning, they led after eight minutes. They could have been even further in front at this stage had it not been for some missed opportunities. The Kilkenny men were level by the 11th minute after a brace of scores from Eoin Larkin, but Damien Hayes notched his first a minute later to restore Portumna's advantage. Joe Canning then fired over a neat point before Brian McEvoy reduced the deficit to a single point on the quarter hour. Portumna were hurling better. They were first to the loose ball and their hunger was clearly evident. Andrew Smith scored a majestic 45 yard point from near the sideline, and even at this early stage Portumna's tails were up. In the 21st minute Damien Hayes latched onto a cleverly taken free from Michael Ryan to fire over another score and then two minutes later Eoin Lynch and David Canning were involved in a classy move that culminated with Hayes crashing the ball to the James Stephens' net. Eoin Larkin's accurate free taking kept the 'Village within striking distance, but a brace of late first-half points, as well as one from Joe Canning, ensured the Galway and Connacht champions went into the Portumna's Joe Canning heads off Martin Phelan from James Stephens in the interval with a six-point advantage. All-Ireland club hurling semi-final at Semple Stadium on Sunday. The Galway men began the second Photo:-Mike Shaughnessy half with more vigour, and another long-range effort from Andy Smith, finished the game with 13 players with Newtownshandrum of Cork in the AIB followed by a classic sideline cut from Philly Larkin and Shane Egan both All-Ireland final on St Patrick's Day in the mercurial Joe Canning, pushed seeing red, the latter in the most Croke Park. Portumna: I Canning; M Gill, E Portumna ahead by eight points before bizarre of circumstances. He was pointed frees from McEvoy and Larkin shown yellow for a sideline altercation McEntee, O Canning; G Heagney, M brought the gap back to its half-time before he came on as a substitute and Ryan, A O'Donnell; L Smith, E Lynch; was awarded a second yellow within D Canning (0-1), K Hayes, A Smith (0status. 4); D Hayes (1-4), N Hayes (0-1) J The next score was crucial and it fell minutes. The final 10 minutes saw the Canning (1-7). Subs: P Smith for K to Portumna in the 42nd minute. Damien Hayes used his strength to get Kilkenny men's attempts for goal falter Hayes, E Lynch for N Hayes, P Treacy past Philly Larkin, feeding the ball to on each occasion due to the herioc for L Smith, T Quinn for O'Donnell. James Stephens: F Cantwell; D Niall Hayes who passed to Joe efforts of the entire Portumna defence. Canning. The Galway minor made no Michael Gill and Aidan O'Donnell Cody, M Phelan, D Grogan; J Tyrell, P mistake, cracking the ball past the deserve mention for their gallant Larkin, P Barry; P O'Brien, B McEvoy displays. Portumna played with a (0-3); J Murphy, E Larkin (0-4), G hapless Cantwell from close range. This score ensured victory for the swagger and Andrew Smith capped a Whelan; E McCormack (0-2), R Hayes, Galway champions. The Noresiders' fine performance with a couple of late D McCormack (0-2). Subs: M Ruth for Murphy, S Egan for Whelan. confidence soon evaporated and scores. Referee: S Roche (Tipperary). Portumna will now face frustration crept into their play. They

On the ball: Portumna's Aidan O'Donnell takes a shot in Sunday's All-Ireland club hurling semi-final at Semple Stadium. Photo:-Mike Shaughnessy

Late Laois point denies plucky Galway
Galway 0-8 Laois 0-8
Under-strength Galway displayed much character and determination, but in the end they could not take the full home league points against Laois in this second round NFL game at Tuam Stadium. After the debacle in Derry a week earlier, there were nothing but positives from this Galway performance. Understrength again, they also lost Kieran Fitzgerald before kick-off with Richie Fahey forced to line out at full back. Fahey, who was issued with a yellow card, failed to get rattled, using all his experience to give a controlled and dominant performance in the full back position. Only once in the closing stages of the opening half did Colm Kelly get any real chance and on that occasion the crossbar denied his effort. In the opening half Galway's half forward line crowded midfield, and with the Galway backs sticking rigidly to the Laois forwards, scores were difficult to come by. Nevertheless the O'Moore County did dominate most of the opening period, but it was not until the last five minutes of the opening half that they were able to produce any type of a scoring pattern. Credit must go to the Galway defence that forced Mick O'Dwyer's side into repeated errors and with a half an hour of football played the O'Moore County, playing with the aid of the fresh breeze, led by a meagre 0-2 to 0-1. Ross Munnelly opened the scoring with a pointed free after a harsh call on Niall Coyne (drafted in for the injured Kieran Fitzgerald) and their outstanding wing back Joe Higgins kicked over a super effort from play 17 minutes into the game. The game was 14 minutes old when Galway kicked their first wide and on 23 minutes Ray Gibbons delivered to Derek Savage to score Galway's opening point. Chris Conway kicked a Laois point and after an off-the-ball challenge by Richie Fahey, Conway added a second point. Just when Laois began to stamp their authority on the game, Galway pushed the ball upfield against the breeze and Padraig Joyce won a free and duly pointed before Padraig Clancy added another Laois point before the break to give Laois a 0-5 to 0-2 lead. Munnelly added a point before Galway produced a series of wides. However they slowly started to plough their way back into the game as Padraig Joyce pointed a free after Derek Savage was fouled and Nicky Joyce added another free before he was substituted and replaced by Alan O'Donovan. Michael Meehan found his shooting form with two points to level the game with 15 minutes remaining. Michael Lawlor, who came into the Laois side as a substitute, set up a move that resulted with a fortuitous Laois free which Chris Conway pointed. Michael Comer then had another Galway wide before Diarmuid Blake came forward from centre back and burst through the Laois defence at pace before releasing to Padraig Joyce who duly pointed to level the game. Galway sought a winner and the hardworking Paul Geraghty delivered to Padraig Joyce who held the ball and sucked in a number of Laois defenders before releasing to the unmarked Derek Savage who kicked over the bar to give Galway the lead for the first time in the game. With time fast running out, Brian McCormack blazed wide with a Laois chance, and when Galway took the wrong option and the ball broke upfield for Laois, Chris Conway kicked over a pressure kick to give Laois a share of the spoils. Galway: A Keane; D Meehan, R Fahey, A Burke; M Comer, D Blake, R Gibbons; N Coleman, P Geraghty; N Coyne, P Joyce (0-3), B Flaherty; M Meehan (0-2), D Savage (0-2), N Joyce (0-1). Subs: A O'Donovan for N Joyce. Laois: F Byron; A Fennelly, C Ryan, P McMahon; J Higgins (0-1), D Conroy, B McCormack; P Clancy (0-1), T Kelly; R Munnelly (0-2), B Brennan, B Sheehan; D Brennan, C Kelly, C Conway (0-4). Subs: D Rooney for Higgins, G Kavanagh for Munnelly, M Lawlor for Kelly, B McDonald for Sheehan. Referee: B Crowe (Cavan).