Portumna at peak of powers

IF YOU were building a prototype forward line in hurling you could hardly do better than the current Portumna sextet.

Size, power, intelligence and hurling up the middle in centre-forward Kevin ‘Chunky’ Hayes and Joe Canning on the edge of the square; searing pace and good accuracy on the flanks, with Andy Quinn and Niall Hayes on the wings, Damien Hayes and David Canning inside.

The challenge for manager Jimmy Heffernan is how best to prepare those players, get them peaking at the right time for the various challenges they’ve faced on the road to Croke Park on Monday, where they take on Birr in the All-Ireland SH club final.