Portumna 1-18
Clarinbridge 1-13

Favourites Portumna marched into the semi-finals of the Galway SHC with another accomplished display at Kenny Park on Saturday which proved too much for a spirited Clarinbridge side.

Portumna, without a championship game for over three months, were sluggish at times but when they went into top gear they were awesome.

Clarinbridge needed to sustain their challenge for the entire 60 minutes but they were blown away in the second and final quarters.

Portumna, trained this year by former Laois and Antrim boss Dinny Cahill, came out of the blocks at full trottle and a goal from Niall Hayes saw them 1-1 to 0-0 in front after less than two minutes. But it was Clarinbridge who then seized the initiative and hit 1-4 without reply in the next twelve minutes with Mark Kerins blasting home a wonderful goal after a move involving Eoin Forde, Eanna Murphy and David Forde.

Portumna looked to be in serious trouble but with captain Ollie Canning leading from the back, they took over and nine points without reply helped them to an interval lead of 1-11 to 1-5.

The accuracy of Mark Kerins and a couple from David Donoghue kept Clarinbridge in the contest and they trailed by just 1-13 to 1-10 going into the final quarter.

But Damian Hayes and Joe Canning were able to pick off the points which keeps last year's runner-up on target for a fifth county final appearance in a row.

Portumna: I Canning; M Gill, E McEntee, O Canning; G Heagney, M Ryan, A O'Donnell; E Lynch (0-1), P Smith; L Smith (0-3), J Canning (0-8, five frees, two 65s), D Canning; A Smith, D Hayes (0-4), N Hayes (1-1).
Subs: K Hayes (0-1) for P Smith, 38 mins.

Clarinbridge: L Donoghue; J Cannon, A Quinn, P Callinan; P Coen, B Burke, M Donoghue; S Burke, E Forde; M Kerins (1-9, 0-6 frees), P Burke (0-1), A Kerins; E Murphy, D Forde, D Donoghue (0-2).
Subs: E Collins (0-1) for E Forde, 36 mins; D Mullins for Coen, 40 mins; S Forde for Murphy.

Referee: A Kelly.

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