Portumna power to another title

THE fallout from their controversial meeting in the decider three years ago has finally been consigned to history after Portumna and Loughrea played out a game in Pearse Stadium yesterday that was relatively incident-free – apart from the issuing of one red card.

Not only did the AIB All-Ireland club champions reverse the result of the 2006 game, but gave an exhibition in the process with man-of-the-match Damien Hayes inspiring them with two early goals.

These goals came in the ninth and 13th minutes, after Joe Canning had converted a fifth-minute 20 metre free. It meant that the favourites had accumulated 3-2 before Loughrea scored their second point in the 16th minute. And, as losing manager Pádraic Duddy conceded, they were playing catch-up for much of the game after that, as Portumna coasted to a third consecutive victory to emulate the achievement of St Mary’s, Athenry in 2000.