End of an Era for Portumna as Senior Status Slips Away

Portumna’s incredible 33-year stay at the top table of Galway hurling has come to an end.
A 0-24 to 2-14 defeat to Ballinderreen at Kenny Park seals their relegation to the Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship for 2026.

It is a landmark moment for one of Galway’s most storied clubs. Portumna have been ever-present
in the senior ranks since winning the Intermediate county title in 1992. Over the following two decades, they became one of the most dominant club sides in Ireland, capturing
six Galway SHC titles (2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013) and an
extraordinary four All-Ireland Club SHC crowns (2006, 2008, 2009, 2014).

Central to that golden era were the legendary Canning brothers – Ollie, Joe, Tony, and Ivan – who became synonymous with Portumna’s rise to national prominence. Joe Canning, widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers of all time,
was the talisman during their peak years, producing some of the most memorable club final performances ever seen
in Croke Park.

But today’s result represents a changing of the guard. While Portumna have continued to field competitive teams in
recent years, they have struggled to replicate the dominance of their late-2000s heyday. Ballinderreen’s sharp
shooting in Athenry proved too much despite Portumna’s goals keeping them in the contest until the closing stages.

For a generation of hurling fans, Portumna’s fall is a reminder of how quickly fortunes can turn at club level.

Their drop to Premier Intermediate brings the curtain down on one of the most successful chapters in Galway club hurling history – but also offers the chance for a rebuild and potential resurgence.

The post End of an Era for Portumna as Senior Status Slips Away appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The 32-year-old retires as the All-Ireland Championship’s top scorer after breaking Henry Shefflin’s record in the loss against Waterford at the weekend.

Canning broke the record of 27-484 (565) and sits on 27-485 (566) as he steps away from Galway GAA following a 0-9 performance.

The Portumna man helped Galway to three Leinster Championships throughout his career, as well as one All-Ireland title in 2017.

The inter-county veteran also leaves the top level having garnered five All-Stars over the course of his thirteen-year career with his county.

Injuries have hampered the forward in recent years and, after three surgeries in five years, Canning feels he can no longer go on for Galway.

The Galway star told media of his decision to retire this morning at a Bord Gais Energy media event.

“It’s injuries and stuff like that,” Canning said at the event.

“I had a couple of fairly serious ones over the year and even this year alone I tore a hamstring after the Waterford league game and didn’t realise I had it for a few weeks.

“Just a little nick, I’d a partial tear in my thumb as well. My finger, my heel, yeah there are four or five injuries alone this year, niggly ones, so yeah it wasn’t getting any easier for me.

“I think that is a bad way as well, just being there for the sake of it.

“As I said to the lads after the game, Saturday wasn’t the day I was planning to tell them.

“That’s just it, life moves on.”

“I thought it [retirement] might be later on in the year,” he said.

“You were kind of hoping in August time, August 22, All-Ireland that’s your kind of dream isn’t it, but that’s life. As I said, life moves on, that’s just the way it is.

“I am content with it. It wasn’t a thing just because we lost, that’s it. As I said to the boys I wanted to say it then because we will never be in that group again.”

The Portumna star departs the stage as one of the best-ever players to play the game and will be remembered on the level of the likes of Henry Shefflin.

The post Galway Star Joe Canning Announces Retirement appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

75′

Davy Glennon gets the final score of the game

68′

Galway’s Shane Cooney with his 2nd point of the game

65′

Niall O’Brien with a point

59′

Conor Cooney for Galway, Joe Boyle for Westmeath

54′

Goal for Galways Conor Cooney

53′

Niall OBrien with another free

52′

Evan Niland with a free for Galway

51′
On Kevin Regan Off Derek McNicholas

49′
Johnny Coen for Galway, they lead 4-24 to 1-12

48′

Handy Goal from Niall Mitchell after he blocks down Galway goalkeeper Eanna Murphy, who gets booked

45′

Cathal Mannion & Conor Cooney for Galway

44′
Galway Substitutes On TJ Brennan & Joseph Cooney Off Brian Concannon & Aidan Harte

42′

Evan Niland for Galway

40′
Yellow card for Joey Boyle

38′
Niall OBrien and Evan Niland trade frees

37′

Brian Concannon with the 4th Galway GOAL

35′
2:55pm Second half underway

35′
Its the Evan Niland show in the first half as Galway lead 3-18 to 0-10 at half time

35′

Another stunning free from Evan Niland followed by a Niall Burke point from play

35′

Shane Williams with a much needed score for Westmeath, its -10 to 3-15

34′

Jarlath Mannion with the 3rd goal for Galway

34′

Niall Burke point

30′
Galway’s Evan Niland with a free, Galway lead by 10pts

28′

Ciaran Doyle an excellent point, his second of the day

27′

Lovely long range free from Even Niland

23′

Aidan Harte for Galway followed by an Evan Niland free, its 0-08 to 2-10

22′

Niall OBrien with another Westmeath free

20′

Evan Niland with a free for Galway

20′

Niall OBrien converts a free and its back to 6pts

18′

Niall Burke with the second Galway goal

17′
Niall O’Brien converting the resulting free after yellow card

17′
Yellow card for Galway\’s Jack Fitzpatrick

16′
Niall O’Brien with another free for Westmeath

14′
Niall Burke & Jarlath Mannion for Galway, they now lead by 6pts

12′
Niall O’Brien with another free for Galway, Cathal Mannion replies for Galway, Its 0-03 to 1-04

10′

Conor Whelan with an easy goal for Galway

7′
Evan Niland for Galway, they lead 3pts to 2pts

6′
Brian Concannon puts Galway in front with a nice score, could have been a goal

3′
Niall O\’Brien with the opening score for Westmeath, Evan Niland responds for Galway

2′
Evan Niland free for Galway drops short

1′
Westmeath: Eoin Skelly; Darragh Egerton, Tommy Doyle, Conor Shaw; Alan Cox, Aaron Craig, Derek McNicholas; Robbie Greville, Davy Glennon; Joey Boyle, Ciaran Doyle, Jack Galvin; Niall O\’Brien, Darragh Clinton, Shane Williams. Subs: Noel Conaty, Tommy Gallagher, Brendan Doyle, Kevin Regan, Peadar Scally, Jack Gillen, Shane Clavin, Josh Coll, Ciaran Nolan, Eoghan Ahearn, Niall Mitchell.

1′
Galway : Eanna Murphy; Sean Loftus, Gearoid McInerney, Jack Fitzpatrick; Aidan Harte, Shane Cooney, Fintan Burke; Johnny Coen, Cathal Mannion; Conor Cooney, Evan Niland, Brian Concannon; Jarlath Mannion, Niall Burke, Conor Whelan.

Minute
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RESULTS
Team Scores Live Score Outcome
Westmeath (H) 0 1-16 Draw, Loss, Win
Galway 0 5-34 Draw, Loss, Win

Starting Teams

Galway: Eanna Murphy; Sean Loftus, Gearoid McInerney, Jack Fitzpatrick; Aidan Harte, Shane Cooney, Fintan Burke; Johnny Coen, Cathal Mannion; Conor Cooney, Evan Niland, Brian Concannon; Jarlath Mannion, Niall Burke, Conor Whelan.

Westmeath:

Start Time & Live GAA TV Coverage

The game is live on TG4 at 2pm on Saturday from TEG Cusack Park

Betting on Westmeath v Galway 

Match betting – 16/1 Westmeath with Galway 1/66

Handicap betting – Westmeath (-13pts) v Galway (-13pts) Both are 10/11

Preview

This is a match that Galway will have to put up a big winning margin with Limerick, Tipperary, Cork & Waterford making up the Hurling 1 Group League table. Even without Joe Canning Galway will have an easy win.

NEW GAA HURLING RULES FOR 2021

Live score commentary and Updates for Westmeath v Galway

Match updates and live GAA scores will appear on Irishscores.com

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The post Hurling Results – Galway beat Westmeath by 30pts appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.