Pressure may have got to Portumna, admits Kelly

JOHNNY KELLY bore a wry smile that masked the reality of Portumna’s inner turmoil – their three-in-a-row dream had just died a painful death.

Kelly admitted the pressure to become to become the first club hurling team to ever string three All-Ireland titles together may have got to his players.

“Maybe it did, subconsciously, maybe it did, I’m not sure,” said the Portumna manager. “We didn’t talk about it but maybe at times it seeps into guys and there’s very little you can do about that. It’s human nature that people clap you on the back. Maybe it did, I’m not sure.”