Portumna 6-23
James Stephens 0-7

Portumna brought a highly successful season to a high-scoring finish as they dished out a 34-points drubbing to James Stephens of Ballina in one-sided Connacht SHC final at Athleague on Sunday to capture their third provincial crown in five years.

IN FULL FLIGHT . . . Portumna?s Damien Hayes, who scored four goals during his side's Connacht final win at Athleague, is challenged by Paul Reape of James Stephens of Ballina during Sunday's decider. Photo: Brian Lawless / SPORTSFILE

The Mayo side ? who will also contest the Connacht club football final next Sunday ? did well to get this far but they never looked like troubling the former All-Ireland champions.

The end result is that Portumna have now lost just one match ? that match against Loughrea in last year's county final ? in three seasons and must be strongly fancied to all the way to All-Ireland glory in the Spring.

Damian Hayes led the Portumna onslaught with a haul of 4-1, three of the goals coming in the opening half as they led by 3-7 to 0-4 at the break.

James Stephens managed the opening score of the game when Keith Barrett landed a free from half-way after five minutes but it was all one-way traffic after that.

Damian Hayes got the first of his goals after ten minutes and again displayed awesome speed to rattle the net after 15 and 26 minutes.

His brother Niall took over after the restart on his way to shooting 1-6, all but a point coming after the break, as Portumna kept coming forward.

Indeed, the margin of victory would have been greater had Portumna not shot 18 wides, twelve of them coming in the opening half.

Niall Hayes got Portuma's fourth goal two minutes after the restart before younger brother Damian blasted his fourth of the game after 41 minutes.

James Stephens got their first score from play going into the final quarter when Paul Reape landed a point from 50 yards and a few minutes later midfielder Vincent O'Hora also found the range.

But Portumna continued to score at will with Kevin Hayes getting their sixth goal eight minutes from the end, with Andrew Smith bringing his tally to 0-6 with a couple of good efforts.

As usual Joe Canning displayed some neat touches but had to be content with just one point from play. However, it mattered little given the accuracy of those around him as they paid down a marker that they will again be serious contenders for the All-Ireland title next Spring.

Portumna: I Canning; M Gill, O Canning, D Canning; G Heagney, E McEntee, A O'Donnell; E Lynch (0-1), P Smith; N Hayes (1-6), K Hayes (1-2), L Smith; D Hayes (4-1), J Canning (0-5, three frees, one 65), A Smith (0-6, one free).
Subs: C Ryan (0-1) for L Smith, 37 mins; J O'Flaherty for A O'Donnell, 42 mins; C O'Hehir (0-1) for Lynch, 44 mins.

James Stephens: T Duffy; K Barrett (0-1, free), D Cafferky, A Healy; H Ruane, K Golden, S Doherty; J Tigue, V O'Hora (0-1); P Reape (0-1), K Healy, R Campion; B Walsh, B Barrett, D Barrett (0-3, all frees).
Subs: J Duffy for A Healy, half-time; A Stenson (0-1, free) for Walsh, 40 mins; C Sheridan for B Barrett, 46 mins; P Walsh for K Healy, 50 mins; S Golden for D Barrett, 58 mins.

Referee: J McGrath (Westmeath).

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