Portumna through to final

AIB ALL-IRELAND CLUB SHC SEMI-FINAL:

Portumna (Galway) 2-17 James Stephens (Kilkenny) 0-11

Goals from Damien Hayes and Joe Canning helped Galway’s Portumna dump champions James Stephens out of the AIB All-Ireland Club Hurling Championship in Thurles.

The Kilkenny men, with Eoin Larkin and Brian McEvoy top scoring, tried gamely but lost their crown as Portumna won through to their first ever final.

2005 AllStar Hayes rifled to the Village's net on 23 minutes to send Portumna in at the break with a 1-9 to 0-6 buffer. Teenager Canning hit four first-half points.

Canning moved Portumna 2-11 to 0-06 clear with the second goal after the restart, which effectively sealed the result.