Portumna 6-12
Kinvara 0-11

Portumna can finally put the fall-out from last year's controversial county final defeat behind them after turning on a majestic display to capture their third Galway SHC title in five years at Pearse Stadium on Sunday.

Anthony Byrne of Kinvara clashes with Eugene Mc Entee of Portumna during Sunday's Senior Hurling Championship County Final at Pearse Stadium. Photo: Declan Monaghan

Portumna have been a driven force all year following the bad-tempered loss to Loughrea last year, but they saved their best display for the highest stage in the county in front of about 13,000. All-Ireland champions eighteen months ago, Portumna seemed vulnerable against the rank outsiders as a lot of their play was laboured on their way to this final.

But they cut loose once they hit the open spaces of Pearse Stadium and in the process cut down a Kinvara side appearing in only their second ever final.

Kinvara, relegation contenders this time last year but unbeaten since surviving those play-offs, suggested in their semi-final win over Castlegar that they would push Portumna all the way. But, alas, their huge south Galway following found their 1979 final collapse to Castlegar being repeated as Portumna showed little mercy.

"We need to stay with Portumna in the opening half, maybe push ahead if we were to be in contention, but they never let us get a grip," said Kinvara chairman Joe Byrne.

"They are like a county team when they are in full flow, very few teams would live with them. That, I suppose, is a small bit of consolation but this was a hard school day for us. We need to learn from this, recognise the progress we have made all year and build from there with a very young squad," he added.

Portumna captain Ollie Canning said they had been very focussed all year and that this was a key season, with Sunday's final deciding whether they won or lost three in five successive appearances in the decider.

"We have waited all year for this day. We parked what happened last year a long time ago and concentrated on winning this year's title. That hard work has now paid off," said Portumna captain Ollie Canning.

Not for the first time, it was the exploits of Joe Canning which led the way as the 19 year old helped himself to a hat-trick of goals.

Indeed, he surprisingly hit five wides but still finished with 3-4 but it was the work around him which proved too much for a Kinvara side which was always on the back foot.

Niall Hayes bagged a brace of goals on his way to a man-of-the-match award and Andy Smith, who got their first at the end of the opening quarter, also found the net as Kinvara were put to the sword. Not even the second-half introduction of their 42 year old player-manager Gerry McInerney could save the day but by then Portumna had all but sown up the issue.

Damian Hayes was superb in an attack where Andy Smith gave the sort of decisive display which should see him get a run with Galway next year.