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.

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1. Ken McGrath (Waterford) – One of the games greatest ever players to play the game. The Mount Sion man made his debut in 1996 and would go on to play till 2011. He would win 4 Munster titles with the Deise and three all-star award. McGrath, who is now a pundit with The Sunday Game was rather unlucky not to win a title in his 15 year career

2. Tony Browne (Waterford) – Tony made his debut in 1991 for Waterford. He would go on to play till 2014, an inter-county career spanning 23 seasons. He won 4 Munster titles, 1 National League and 3 all-stars. Browne was named hurler of the year in 1998. The Mount Sion man would also go on to claim 7 County titles.

3. Ciaran Carey (Limerick) – Ciaran made his debut in 1989 for the Shannonsiders. He would finish up inter-county hurling in 2004. He would win 2 Munster titles, 2 National League and 3 all-star awards. Carey played with his club Patrickswell from 1987 to 2004. With his club he would win 9 County titles and Munster titles.

4. John Mullane (Waterford) – Mullane was arguably one of the best forwards in the game not to win an All-Ireland medal. The De La Salle club man played with the Deise from 2001 to 2014. He would score 15-134 in 47 appearances. Mullane would win 4 Munster titles, 1 National League and 5 all-star awards. The 39 year old still plays with his club and also commentates on live games with RTE.

5. Ollie Canning (Galway) – The older brother of Joe Canning. Canning is now a pundit with Sky Sports. Canning won everything in the game bar an All-Ireland title with Galway. He made his debut in 1996 and retired in 2010. He would win 3 Connacht titles, 4 National Leagues and 4 all-star awards. With Portumna he has won 6 county titles, 3 Connacht titles and 4 All-Ireland titles. One of best corner backs over the past 20 or 30 years for sure.

6. Dan Shanahan (Waterford) – “Dan the Man” made his debut in 1995 for Waterford and would retire in 2014. Dan won 4 Munster titles, 3 all-stars and 1 National League. He would go on to win the hurler of the year award in 2007 after some superb performances. He currently still hurls with his club Lismore.

7. Damien Hayes (Galway) – Hayes played club hurling with Portumna right up till lat year. He played with Galway from 2001 to 2014, scoring 20-85 in 52 appearances. He would win 1 Connacht title, 2 National Leagues and 3 all-stars. With his club he would win 4 All-Ireland titles, 3 Connacht titles and 6 county titles. A remarkable player.

8. Paul Flynn (Waterford) – The Ballygunner man would go on to play for Waterford from 1993 to 2008. He would win 3 Munster titles, 1 National and 1 all-star award. With Ballygunner Flynn would claim 8 county titles and 1 Munster title.

That completes my list of the top 8 hurlers never to win an All-Ireland.

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