Canning on song for Sevens champions Portumna

Portumna, Inniskeen Grattans, Shannon Rovers and Tourin claimed the four All-Ireland Hurling Sevens titles that were on offer in mixed weather conditions in Dublin yesterday.

At the Meteor Kilmacud Sevens, Portumna were crowned All-Ireland Senior Sevens Cup champions for the third time following their 11-9 to 4-7 win over fellow Galway side Mullagh.

In the final Portumna led by 5-4 to 2-4 at half time, with Player of the Tournament Joe Canning bagging four first half goals.

The former All-Ireland Club champions extended that lead with two goals in quick succession in the opening minutes of the second half. Canning has amassed an incredible 8-2 by the full-time whistle, as Portumna ran out 23-point winners.

Previously in the semi-finals, Portumna had too much firepower for Cork's Ballinhassig to run away with a 8-10 to 1-6 victory.

Mullagh booked their spot in the final with a 5-11 to 4-2 win over Bishopstown to complete the all-Galway decider.

Meanwhile, Monaghan's Inniskeen Grattans overcame Tyrone’s Eoghan Ruadh, Dungannon by 3-10 to 4-5 to claim the Shield title.

At Templeogue, Tipperary club Shannon Rovers became the first team to be crowned back-to-back Bord Gais Energy St. Jude's All-Ireland Junior Hurling Sevens champions following a 1-9 to 1-6 final win over Galway's Padraig Pearses after extra-time.

In a keenly-contested encounter, a goal from Galway senior star Cyril Donnellan powered Padraig Pearses to a 1-3 to 0-3 interval lead in normal time.

Shannon Rovers staged a comeback on the restart, as they outscored their Ballinasloe counterparts by four points to one in the second half, with an Alan Hogan point forcing extra-time.

Rovers were strongest in extra-time, with a Padraic O'Meara goal powering them to victory. Shannon Rovers defender Alan Byrne claimed the ‘Laoch an Lae’ award.

Meanwhile, the Shield final was an all-Waterford affair with Tourin, inspired by senior star Shane Fives, securing a slender 2-6 to 2-5 win over Ferrybank in a hard-fought decider.

A late point from Brendan Scanlon proved decisive, in a game which saw Daithi Wilkinson and Kevin Leahy score a goal in either half for the eventual winners, while Sam Lawless and Eoin O’Neill found the net for Ferrybank.