All-Ireland club champs Portumna have qualified, as expected, for the semi-finals of the Galway Senior Hurling Championship final with a hard-fought 2-11 to 0-15 victory over Clarinbridge.
Scoring ace and All Star nominee Joe Canning bagged 0-8 for Portumna, while Mark Kerins scored 0-9 for Clarenbridge.
Clarinbridge had opened up a 0-5 to 0-2 lead after 19 minutes, but Ciaran Ryan struck the first of two goals two minutes later to help Portumna into a 1 - 6 to 0 - 6 half-time lead.
With little between the sides throughout the second half, Clarenbridge were within a point of Portumna when Ollie Canning set up Ryan for his second as time ran out for the Bridge.
Goals from Kenneth Colleran and Gordon Glynn helped the 2006 champions Loughre to a 2-14 to 1-15 win over Craughwell.
Niall Healy was on target for the losers, hitting 1-8, but Craughwell will rue their 11 wides.
City side Liam Mellows survived a stern challenge from Beagh, who had sensationally knocked out three-times All-Ireland champions Athenry the previous week. Having trailed at half time, Mellows hit a purple patch in the last quarter, and a late free from John Hughes gave them a 0-11 to 0-10 win.
Gort also qualified for the semi-final after goals from former county player Ollie Fahy and Paul Killilea helped them to a 2-19 to 2-12 victory over last year’s beaten finalists Kinvara.
