Canning banking on experience as Portumna set for Croker

ARE you better off going into an occasion as potentially nerve-wracking as an All-Ireland club senior hurling final wide-eyed, fresh and green; or cold and calculating?

Two years ago unfamiliarity with the biggest day on the GAA club scene certainly didn’t do Portumna any harm as they defeated Newtownshandrum in a hard-fought low-scoring game.

As they again head for Dublin on Monday and a date with Birr, captain Ollie Canning, has no doubt about the mindset he’d prefer to have.

“Two years ago we were facing into the unknown. It was our first time in an All-Ireland final our first time in Croke Park but it worked out for us.

“I suppose when you’re there for the first time there’s that extra buzz, the enthusiasm and that can drive you on, but I prefer the other side of the coin.

“This time we know what it’s about, we know all the pitfalls, we can handle the expectations. I know there are occasions when you’re probably better off not knowing what’s in front of you, but not here.

“You need to get settled into it, don’t worry about it and treat it as you would any other big game. It won’t be anything too new to the players this time and hopefully we can use the experience gained to our advantage.”

The novelty of that first title has long worn off but far from satisfying an appetite, it spawned a hunger in Portumna.

Despite its status as a gate-town to the west, sitting as it does on the banks of the Shannon, a scenic tourist stop on the north end of Lough Derg, Portumna isn’t a very big GAA club, winning its first Galway senior title only a few years ago. The club and the players know — as did rivals, double All-Ireland champions Sarsfields over a decade ago— that this is a special bunch. They want to get the most they can out of themselves, while they can.

Last year was an opportunity missed when they were beaten in a controversial hard-hitting Galway county final by Loughrea. From that defeat they have come back stronger and there was no stopping them in Galway, no stopping them either against Tipp and Munster champions Loughmore-Castleiney several weeks ago. Now, with Ollie Canning leading the charge, their sights are again set on All-Ireland glory.

“We have the same manager, Jimmy Heffernan, we have the same routine as two years ago and that’s come from the management. We’ll be travelling up on Monday morning by bus, exactly as we did two years ago. We’ll stop along the way, stretch the legs, hit a few balls and get ready.”

The problem for Portumna, however, is that their opposition, Birr, are even more experienced at this level. The Offaly champions are going for their fifth All-Ireland crown. For Ollie they are the benchmark.

“They’ve been the top club in the country over the last 10 or 15 years with four All-Ireland. Ballyhale Shamrocks also have four but their wins stretch back a lot further; Birr won their four titles pretty recently. They have huge experience at this level and we shouldn’t forget either all the massive games they’ve had in Leinster (Birr beat Ballyhale Shamrocks in the Leinster semi-final in this campaign, had a real tester against Ballyboden-St Enda’s of Dublin in the final).

“And they’re still building, still bringing new players onto the team all the time, a very successful club. A lot of big names — in hurling generally — have retired in the last few years but they seem to have no problem filling their boots.

“You have to admire them for that; they seem to have a conveyor belt of talent.”

As for Portumna, they will have more or less the same team as two years ago, injuries permitting. “Peter Smyth (wing-back) is the only real newcomer. Eoin Lynch (midfielder) is getting the pins out in his finger and he’s hoping everything will be fine.

“Obviously it’s not the ideal preparation for Eoin, not being able to hurl since the semi-final, but those are the cards he’s been dealt, he’ll have to play them. I know Eoin is determined lad and he’ll be ready.

“Joe’s hamstring is fine at this stage (that’s Joe Canning, Ollie’s brother, star of the show two years ago as a 17-year-old), I think all our injuries are more or less cleared up, nothing major at this stage.

“We can talk all we like of experience, but as usual, this will still come down to the day, who is more up for it.”