Grafter Jonathan Glynn also possesses silken skills

Damien Hayes, in reflecting on Portumna’s journey to the 2014 All-Ireland club hurling decider, cited their county quarter-final fixture against Ardrahan as the most troublesome hurdle.

On the second last Sunday of the previous September, Portumna had fallen over the finishing line – 1-15 to 1-14 they edged out the South Galway outfit.

At the root of their problems on a particularly wintry afternoon at St Brendan’s Park, Loughrea was a 20-year old Jonathan Glynn.