The closure of the local championship season always concludes with a mixture of feelings. There is an obvious disappointment that another year has passed and for some of the contenders opportunities have been squandered. Still, though, deep down hope hasn't left the hearts.
In hurling, Gort and Liam Mellows made smashing progress with relatively youthful teams. In football Corofin returned to the summit of the Galway game as Cortoon Shamrocks story offered the romantic drop to the tale. Ultimately Cortoon demonstrated that graft and grit can bring a club into the list of challengers.
Those traits were precisely what Gort carried into the hurling showpiece, and proof was provided in Salthill, but Portumna are simply operating in a different realm to everybody else in the county. Listening to Johnny Kelly speak passionately about Portumna was a reminder of the honesty that rivets county championships.
Like Sarsfields and Athenry before them Portumna have proceeded to deliver on the national stage too, but there is a sense of satisfaction with the latest triumph.
Kelly acknowledged that successful days don’t last forever, and that a return to the pack is inevitable at some stage in the future. So when a fourth title in a half dozen years is delivered there is ample reason to celebrate gleefully, and the border men will have enjoyed a merry week. Still there are always challenges in sport and the potential February date with a decorated Ballyhale Shamrocks outfit is an pretty prospect.
FA Cup starts
On Saturday afternoon the FA Cup First round saw Millwall enjoy a smashing three goal success over Chester City as David Forde delivered a clean sheet.
Millwall inflicted the damage with a flurry of late strikes as Forde thwarted a hungry Welsh outfit who made the Lions strain every sinew.
At the Withdean Colin Hawkins, earning positive reviews for Brighton & Hove Albion, unfortunately put the ball into his own net as Mickey Adams’ charges drew a six goal thriller with Hartlepool. Plagued by injuries when with Coventry City, Hawkins has been a key performer for Brighton this season under Adams, who clearly believes in the Galwegian’s ability.
Polished goalkeeper Ger Hanley was included in Sean McCaffrey’s Republic of Ireland under 19 squad for the first phase of the UEFA Championship qualifiers. This is a significant achievement as Hanley will be eligible for the grade again next season. Stevie Folan also featured in Qatar for the Irish under 17s last week too as Galway’s promising youngsters gain international recognition.
