PORTUMNA SEALED A return to the Galway SHC final with a shaky three point win over a spirited Craughwell side who very nearly shocked the reigning All-Ireland champions.
Indeed had Craughwell not misfired in attack with a whopping 19 wides, it’s likely they would have dumped the red-hot favourites out of the championship.
Joe Canning took just 52 seconds to find the net for Portumna to hand them an early lead but it was the only difference between the sides as Craughwell held their nerve and kept in touch.
A couple of late scores before the interval left Canning’s side 1-8 to 0-6 up at half-time but a Fergal Healy inspired Craughwell fought their way back into the game and they found themselves a goal behind heading into injury time.
But the reigning champions did just enough and closed out a 1-15 to 0-15 triumph, leaving Craughwell wondering what might have been.
Elsewhere on the hurling front, Four Roads won their seventh straight Roscommon SHC title with a nine-point win over Athleague, while there were also final wins for Kiltale and Ballyhaunis in Meath and Mayo respectively.
It was a second crown in the space of a week for Ballyhaunis, who wrapped up the Mayo intermediate football title last weekend. Inspired by Mayo football star Keith Higgins who scored 0-2 from play at midfield, Ballyhaunis claimed their 11th title at this grade.
Galway SHC semi-final
Portuma 1-15 Craughwell 0-15Roscommon SHC final
Four Roads 3-11 Athleague 0-11Meath SHC final
Kiltale 1-25 Trim 0-12Mayo SHC final
Ballyhaunis 1-12 Tooreen 1-10