Portumna claimed their third Galway SHC title on the trot at Pearse Stadium yesterday following a stunning 19-point demolition of Loughrea. Portumna.5-19 Loughrea..1-12 It was sweet revenge for the reigning All-Ireland club champions, who had lost the 2006 final to Loughrea in controversial circumstances. And on this evidence, they will be hard stopped in their quest for an unprecedented three-in-a-row of Tommy Moore Cup successes. Before an attendance of 8,000, Portumna produced an exhibition of hurling to which their opponents had no response. For once, Joe Canning was held scoreless from play, but he still made a telling contribution by laying off chances for his team-mates and, of course, from placed balls. The 21-year-old All-Star finished with 1-8 from frees, but he was outshone on this occasion by Damien Hayes who bagged 3-3 in a man of the match display. This latest victory gives Portumna their fifth Galway SHC title in six years. The champions set out their stall with a fourth minute goal from Canning, who blasted a 21-yard free past six players. Hayes also netted in the ninth and 14th minutes to give Portumna a 3-2 to 0-1 lead at the end of the first quarter. An 18th minute Johnny Maher goal gave Loughrea hope, while the accurate free-taking of minor star Neil Keary was also a feature of the first half. But Portumna still took a 3-10 to 1-5 lead into the break and within 17 seconds of the restart, the game was up for Loughrea when Hayes completed his hat-trick after being set up by Andy Smith. Keary hit four pointed frees in the opening seven minutes of the half, but with Kevin 'Chunky' Hayes outstanding at centre forward, Portumna continued to dominate. A Martin Dolphin goal 12 minutes from the end sparked a melee, after which Niall Hayes was red-carded. But the flare-up made no difference to the outcome as Portumna powered to another county title. Portumna - I Canning; A O'Donnell, E McEntee, O Canning; G Heagney, M Ryan, P Smith; E Lynch (0-1), L Smith; A Smith (0-1), K Hayes (0-3), A N Hayes; M Dolphin (1-1), J Canning (1-10, 1-8 ff, 2 65s); D Hayes (3-3). Subs: C Ryan for P Smith (47); D Canning for Dolphin (56); J Keane for I Canning (60). Loughrea - S Morgan; D Melia, D McClearn, E Mahony; J Dooley, V Maher, T Regan; G Keary, B Mahony; J O'Loughlin (0-1), J Maher (1-1), J Coen; K Colleran (0-1), R Regan, N Keary (0-8, 7f). Subs: E Mahony (0-1) for Melia (15); G Glynn for Colleran (50); P Hoban for E Mahony, (50). Ref: A Kelly (Rahoon/Newcastle) Tweet

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