Portumna ready to take that final step

TWO years later than players and supporters would have wished for, or expected, Portumna hurlers have made it to Croke Park for St Patrick’s Day.

Coincidentally they are meeting Newtownshandrum, who, in winning the 2004 AIB All-Ireland club title, defeated Antrim side Dunloy, who had shocked Portumna in the semi-final.

Portumna are now a wiser, more mature squad of players and even more highly motivated this time. At the same time, they are utterly respectful of the reputation built up by the Cork and Munster champions.

Newtown struggled through their semi-final against Ballygalget in O'Moore Park, while Portumna turned on the style when accounting for holders James Stephens.

Star forward Damien Hayes says he wasn't surprised that Newtown experienced such difficulty against the Antrim side. One of three brothers in the Portumna attack and without question one of the most exciting young talents in the game Hayes first alluded to the venue.

"I have never seen any team to win easy in Portlaoise. It's a football pitch it's not easy to hurl there. Galway are run closely every time there by Laois," he said.

More to the point, after Portumna's experience in the All-Ireland semi-final two years ago, he admits to having a healthy respect for Northern opposition. "Dunloy deserved to beat us that day. They did it fair and square,'' he added. "We didn't perform and they hurled well."

Hayes, who won his first All-star award last year, has been living the dream of the club championship for as long as he can remember.

"I have been watching Birr over the years, going over to homecomings when we were watching the Pilkingtons and the Whelahans," he points out. "It's only 20 minutes from us.

"It has always been my ambition to get Portumna up to Croke Park. When I was a young lad I used to be going up watching Birr, Sarsfields and Athenry.

"You'd always be wondering. You'd never think Portumna would get there. Now that we have, it's very special for the Hayes family, for all the families and for everybody involved."

Hayes and fellow All-star Ollie Canning both opted out of the trip to Singapore last month in order to concentrate on the February 12 game against James Stephens. It was a "small sacrifice" to make, he says.

"You had to have respect for the other panel members. It was an easy decision to make. When we got beaten by Dunloy two years ago I thought we'd be back the following year. But Athenry beat us in the county final."

To their credit, they fought their way back to the 2005 championship decider, where they defeated Loughrea 3-21 to 3-14.

Hayes scored 2-6 in that game and 17-year-old starlet Joe Canning finished with 1-11. Together they form a potent attacking force, yet arguably the most impressive feature of their win over James Stephens was the balanced nature of the side.

Two years ago Eoin Lynch was at full-back and Ollie Canning was at centre-back. Up to the last game, Ollie was at midfield, but he reverted to corner-back where he played a major role. Lynch, meanwhile, was a huge success at midfield.

So, what about their prospects of making a winning debut, just like Newtown in 2004.

"The whole country has seen them. They're an excellent team, I like the way they hurl. They have a lovely blend and some lovely hurlers.

"We have to put in a big one.

"If we don't put in a big performance we won't beat them. It's as simple as that.

"People ask if we will have the greater hunger, I don't know. We'll all find that out on the day. I say, let the best team win. Let the hurling do the talking.''

After the way Galway pushed Cork so close in last year's All-Ireland final, it's obvious that Hayes and the other Portumna players in the county panel will be even more hopeful of succeeding this season. Right now, he feels that it would be the ultimate accolade to win a medal today.

"There's no better day than winning with your club. People will argue with me there, that's my opinion."

Hayes might very well change his opinion if he manages to win with club and county and emulate the achievements of so many players, including Galway manager Conor Hayes.

But, for the time being, he has only one vision. And, based on the way Portumna hurled against James Stephens, I believe he will complete the first leg of the double.