Athenry boost as star forward Cloonan to return for final

ATHENRY are increasingly hopeful that Eugene Cloonan will recover from injury in time for Sunday’s Galway SHC final against holders Portumna.

The inter-county forward had to leave the field during the club’s semi-final win over Gort two weeks ago due to the recurrence of a back injury. Club officials were initially sceptical of the player’s chances of making the decider but secretary Michael Quinn yesterday intimated that their attacking talisman would make the line-up.

Athenry were also awaiting news last night of defender Shane Donoghue’s appeal against a six-month ban picked up in the ill-tempered quarter-final win over Loughrea.

The wing-back received the suspension after the county board viewed video evidence from the contest but the club were not hopeful yesterday of a favourable decision.

Portumna are not without their own worries ahead of the game either. Davy Canning will sit out the final after picking up a one-match ban for his sending-off against Turloughmore in their semi-final a fortnight ago.

Manager Mike Monaghan has not given up hope over the eldest of the five Canning brothers, Frankie, however, even if the 31-year-old broke a finger in their quarter-final victory.

“Frankie only picked up a hurley again for the first time 10 days ago but we’ll wait on him until Sunday morning if we have to,” said Monaghan.

“He scored nine points for us in the county final last year so we’ll do what we have to to give him every chance of playing.”

Whatever the personnel on view, it promises to be an enthralling game. Despite the fact that one of the teams’ seasons will end at the weekend, both are joint favourites for the All-Ireland title with one bookmaker.

“Galway clubs have a great record in the All-Ireland club down the years, even if we dicked it up a bit last year losing to Dunloy in the semi-final,” Monaghan said.

“It didn’t make us feel any better when they went out and got hammered in the final either.

“The fact that we’re unbeaten this year and Athenry are one of the best clubs in the country this past 10 years means there will be a lot of people looking out for the result to this one.”

Even accounting for Galway’s tradition in the competition however, Monaghan feels some of the odds on offer simply don’t add up.

“I see that Cloyne and Na Piarsaigh are 20-1 for the All-Ireland, but I don’t think there’d be much in it if we were to go out in the morning and play either one of them.

“Ah, you don’t want to pay too much attention to all that anyway. Sunday is all we’re thinking about for now.”