Congratulations to Potumna

[slow corner back]

Well done to Portumna on a very convincing victory in todays all ireland final. After a poor start they slowly started to take control and a scoring blitz either side of half time basically won them the game. Damian and Kevin Hayes were excellent and big Joe is deadly from placed balls. Two all irelands in three years is some going, who fancies stopping them going for a third?

[Minder]

They are a serious outfit alright,they have pace and mobility all over the pitch. 3-19 is some scoring in a final. Hopefully big Joe will go to Galway seniors this year to we see him in Casement in june

[thejuice]

Hope Joe gets on the Galway team, he's an awesome player. Wonder will Ollie do the same. Great win, pity about Brian Whelahan getting sent off.

[imtommygunn]

What did Brian Whelehan do?

Very good Portuma side - Hayes and Canning would be too much for most intercounty defenses never mind a club one. Ollie Canning superb too.

[GalwayBayBoy]

Masterful Portumna are club hurling champions
17 March 2008


Portumna claimed the All-Ireland club hurling championship with a stunning 3-19 to 3-9 victory over Birr in the decider at Croke Park.

Despite conceding two goals inside the first ten minutes, the winners eventually got into their stride to lead by 1-11 to 2-4 at the break.

Simon Whelehan opened the scoring from a first-minute free after he had been fouled himself and Birr's dream start continued when Stephen Browne tapped the ball to an empty net after a high delivery deceived Portumna goalkeeper Ivan Canning

Joe Canning steadied the Galway champions with a fifth-minute free and there were no more scores until centre forward Kevin Hayes doubled Portumna's tally with a fine strike from play.

In the tenth minute Simon Whelehan got Birr's second goal when he flicked brother Barry's dangerous delivery to the net. Damien Hayes replied immediately with a Portumna point and the Connacht club were unfortunate when Niall Hayes' first-time strike rolled inches outside the post.

Midfielder Leo Smith got Portumna's fourth point after Joe Canning had uncharacteristically fumbled possession. Andrew Smith then improvised superbly to grab Portumna's opening goal to level the score at 1-4 to 2-1.

The wing forward appeared to have lost his chance after his original attempt was hooked but he remained calm and kicked the loose sliothar past advancing goalkeeper Brian Mullins to the net from an acute angle.

Rory Hanniffy pointed for Birr and Simon Whelehan added another score after persisting to gather possession from Brian Whelehan's pass. Andrew Smith halved the gap with a nice point on 17 minutes and they were level again when Joe Canning landed a whopping free from inside his own half.

Portumna were awarded a soft penalty when Damien Hayes went to ground and Joe Canning took it on the stroke of the 20th minute. His shot was blocked on the line and Brian Whelehan was on hand to clear the ball.

Mullins spilled the ball out for a cheap 65 and Joe Canning measured his shot superbly to put Portumna ahead for the first time, 1-7 to 2-3.

Simon Whelehan (free) and Damien Hayes traded points before Kevin Hayes blasted one over after good work by Damien Hayes and Joe Canning. Portumna full back Eugene McEntee got up and played on after being knocked unconscious by a blow to the head - I'd like to see a Premiership star doing that some day!

From the resultant free, Joe Canning stretched the gap with a monster free from all of 40 yards inside his own half.

Andrew Smith swivelled to drop a nice shot over the Birr crossbar and Joe Canning was bemused when his effort was ruled wide in the second minute of added time. The shot appeared to have dissected the posts but it didn't count and the margin was four at the break.

Portumna were playing into the breeze in the second half but Damien Hayes didn't seem to mind as he floated the ball between the posts after mere seconds. Andrew Smith then danced through the Birr rearguard and rounded the 'keeper to tap the ball to an empty net.

Suddenly, there was clear daylight between the teams: 2-12 to 2-4.

At the other end, Birr were having little luck. Brian Whelehan saw his shot come back off a post and Gary Hanniffy kicked a low shot inches wide into the sidenetting.

When Joe Canning popped over a free, there were nine points in it and no way back for the rattled Offaly and Leinster champions. Simon Whelehan sent a free wide before Brian Whelehan finally opened Birr's second-half account with a lovely point off his left side seven minutes in.

Joe Canning struck an exquisite point after gathering possession from brother Ivan, but Simon Whelehan knocked over a Birr free to keep the gap at eight. Birr were almost in for a third three-pointer when Brian Whelehan's centre rolled across the face of goal but Kevin Hayes floated over a great 60-metre point into the Hill end to make it 2-15 to 2-6.

Simon Whelehan popped over a brace of frees and, in between, Birr were unfortunate when the ball ricocheted off Ollie Canning's stick inches outside the post for a 65. Joe Canning magically clipped a trademark sideline cut straight between the posts to increase the gap to eight points again, with eleven minutes left.

In the 50th minute, Damien Hayes sprinted around his man and slammed a brilliant shot into the top corner of the net from an acute angle. Joe Canning added a majestic point and it was now embarrassing for Birr: 3-17 to 2-8.

Nine minutes from the end, Simon Whelehan's low free somehow crept past a statuesque forest of Portumna defenders to the back of the net to bring the differential back to nine, but there was no way back.

Joe Canning knocked over a couple of frees and Simon Whelehan closed the scoring with an injury-time free. Brian Whelehan was sent off for an off-the-ball offence in the dying moments before Ollie Canning had the honour of lifting the Tommy Moore Cup

Scorers:

Birr: Simon Whelahan 1-07 (1-06f), Stephen Browne, Sean Ryan 1-00 each, Rory Hanniffy, Brian Whelahan 0-01 each

Portumna: Joe Canning 0-10 (0-07f, 0-01 sl), Andy Smith 2-02, Damien Hayes 1-03, Kevin Hayes 0-03, Leo Smith 0-01

[ExiledGael]

Heard Ollie Canning interviewed by your woman Madigan after the game. When pushed on the phone ringing in the Canning house for the next few days he said he expects it will and "I'd say Joe will be answering the call this year aright", about himself he just said "I'm going to enjoy tonight and I'll have a think about it later in the week".
What age is Ollie?

[GalwayBayBoy]

Heard Ollie Canning interviewed by your woman Madigan after the game. When pushed on the phone ringing in the Canning house for the next few days he said he expects it will and "I'd say Joe will be answering the call this year aright", about himself he just said "I'm going to enjoy tonight and I'll have a think about it later in the week".
What age is Ollie?

Ollie is either 30 or 31 I think.

Looking like Joe will be playing for Galway this Summer then. Would be great to have Ollie back too. His stance seems to have softened a lot in recent months when asked about coming back. Last year he was adamant that he was finished.

[GaillimhIarthair]

Heard Ollie Canning interviewed by your woman Madigan after the game. When pushed on the phone ringing in the Canning house for the next few days he said he expects it will and "I'd say Joe will be answering the call this year aright", about himself he just said "I'm going to enjoy tonight and I'll have a think about it later in the week".
What age is Ollie?

Ollie is either 30 or 31 I think.

Looking like Joe will be playing for Galway this Summer then. Would be great to have Ollie back too. His stance seems to have softened a lot in recent months when asked about coming back. Last year he was adamant that he was finished.

And I would suggest he is badly needed back too GBB.  Need him and Fergal Moore manning the two coner back positions this year to cover for our lack of quality in the 3 jersey. 

[Declan]

Well done Portumna - A well deserved victory in what was a very open and enjoyable game. They just had too much pace for Birr and it was a pity to see Whelehan finish like that -As soon as he struck the Portumna lad you could see his regret. Whatever about Joe Canning taking his place on the county panel his older brother and captain was magnificent yesterday and Loughnane should do all in his power to get him back for the summer. Damien Hayes and Smith were excellent as well and Joe Cannings striking of the ball is as good as I've seen. That free from his own 45 was still traveling when it cleared the blackspot and a sublime sideline cut from the Hogan stand.

Must say great value yesterday €20 and a fiver for the kids for an afternoon's entertainment - Great stuff     

[orangeman]

What did Brian Whelehan do ? The gane was over at that stage - should he have been sent off ?

[AZOffaly]

Fair play to Portumna, they showed admirable composure in the face of a good Birr start, and their pace running with the ball was too much for Birr. 3-9 would have you in a lot of games, but 3-19 is a great score and would win 99% of finals, especially at Club level. Portumna are a very formidable team and totally deserved the win.

Congrats to Birr on getting this far, and winning what they've, we are all proud of them in Offaly, but it's up to the other clubs in the county now to try and really get competitive with them. It's no coincidence in my view that Birr's dominance in Offaly has coincided with a poor period for the county team. Not because it's bad that Birr are good, but because the likes of Coolderry, Rynaghs, Kinnitty and Clareen have gone back, and are not really providing tried and tested players for the county.

On a sour note, how disappointing to see Brian Whelehan lose his composure in the last minute and get himself sent off. I was hoping the ref would show leniency, given the circumstances, but Sid now joins Zinedine Zidane as great, great players who's final act on the big stage was to do something really stupid. Brian was gracious afterwards, and refused to blame the referee for his own error, and it was nice to see the Portumna players forgiving him and shaking hands at the end.

[maxpower]

Indeed many congratulations to Portumna, a terrific team performance and a blistering attack.

[heineken_on_tap]

A serious club team - if they have the hunger they could add a few more All Ireland medals - Fair play to them

[GY Joe]

Add my voice to the chorus of congratulations for Portumna. They join a growing group of Galway teams that have won 2 AI's. Odds on them to join Athenry on 3? I think. And short enough odds on them to join Birr on 4 I would say. If they can keep the hunger, barring injuries etc., etc.

Now on to the good stuff.. Andy and Leo Smith, Damien Hayes, Eoin Lynch, Ollie Canning to come back and the Joe show to arrive at the intercounty door at last...
Brace yourselves cats!! You might have some competition this year at last..

[GY Joe]

PS..
Can someone post up the match analysis from the Irish Times please..

Thanks in advance.

GY Joe