Family affair as Portumna bid to get back to hurling's top table in Galway

Portumna and Athenry will clash this Saturday in the Galway SHC ‘B’ final.

FAMILY AFFAIR: Joe Canning continues to be the key man in attack for Portumna. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie

A father and son from one of the country’s most famous hurling families will line out together this Saturday as two former superpowers try to get back to the top table in Galway.

Portumna and Athenry won seven All-Ireland club titles between them but have slipped to the second tier in the Galway championship.

They will clash in Athenry this Saturday in the Galway SHC ‘B’ final with the winners being promoted to compete in the premier event in the county next year which the two clubs dominated for long periods in recent decades.

Athenry, three-time All-Ireland champions in 1997, 2000 and 2001, won eight Galway titles and were runners-up four times in a glorious period from 1987 to 2004.

Portumna, who collected four All-Ireland titles in 2006, ‘08, ’09 and ’14, took over from Athenry as the dominant force in Galway and won six county titles and were runners-up three times in a dozen years at the top.

A reduction in the number of teams allowed to participate for the Galway SHC title saw the creation of a second tier of eight teams who, while retaining ‘senior’ status, are not allowed compete for the Tom Callanan Cup but compete for a ‘B’ title with promotion to the top tier, with Athenry and Portumna slipping down to that level.

There are many links with the glorious period for both clubs in the sides which will line out at Kenny Park in Athenry in the ‘B’ final with the Cannings, central to Portumna’s period of dominance, creating their own unique piece of history when Ivan lines out in goal and his son Andrew is a key figure in attack.

Ivan, now a Fianna Fail county councillor, was their goalkeeper during the glory period and has returned between the posts, allowing his nephew Jack move to an attack which also includes his son Andrew.

Joe Canning continues to be their key player in attack, shooting 4-54 so far in this year’s championship as they bid to get back to the top table with a side managed by former All Star Sean Treacy.

Standing in their way is an Athenry club who have enjoyed a lot of underage success in recent years, including the county minor title won last weekend, and they too have many family links with their glory days, not least Jason Rabbitte, a Galway minor last year and son of former All Star Joe.