By JOHN FALLON

Triple All-Star Damien Hayes has brought the curtain down on a glittering hurling career after helping Portumna retain their status in the top flight of Galway hurling at the weekend.

The 37-year old scored 25 championship goals in a 14-year career with the Galway seniors and retired from the inter-county scene after the 2014 campaign.

But he continued for another five seasons with his native Portumna who he inspired to win their first Galway senior title in 2003 and go on to become of the most successful clubs in the country.

The corner-forward won 27 senior titles with Portumna in 21 seasons, which included six Galway SHC crowns, four All-Ireland titles as well as All-Ireland sevens, Connacht championships, county leagues and minor wins.

“I was fortunate to come along when there was a great bunch of warriors in Portumna. We are a small club but I was lucky to be part of an exceptional group.

“We loved hurling with each other, we backed each other and were fortunate that there was a great bunch of coaches and people in the club to drive it all on to unimaginable success,” he said.

A minor win in 1999 and the emergence of a number of families such as the Hayes, Cannings, Lynchs and Treacys helped backbone a serious assault on a first ever senior crown and they achieved that in 2003 when they beat Loughrea.

It was the first of six county titles in eleven years, going on to win the first of four All-Ireland club titles in 2006 when they defeated Newtownshandrum in the final.

“We were driven to win as much as could. We knew it wouldn’t last forever but we were determined to make the most of it while it lasted. We came on the scene after the great Sarsfields and Athenry teams in Galway.

“Our club has a long and proud history but there wasn’t much silverware down through the decades so we wanted to make the most of the opportunity that came our way.

“I won three All-Star awards but didn’t go on two of the tours — Ollie Canning did the same — because we wanted to stay and train with Portumna and have a crack at the All-Ireland.

“The same commitment was there from lads on the fringe of the team. They were just warriors and it was just great to be part of it all,” said Hayes, who won two league titles with Galway but who tasted All-Ireland defeats in 2001, 2005 and 2012.

He played his part on Saturday evening in Loughrea as Portumna pipped Gort in a relegation battle — they met in the county final five years ago — and had made his mind up to retire after this campaign.

“I said it to the lads in the dressingroom on Saturday evening that it was good to go out on a high. Portumna is going through a transition now but it’s in the top flight and hopefully the next group will come along and go again.

“I just knew it was time to pack it in, the body has a way of telling you and I was started to get niggling injuries, but I’m blessed to have had the run I’ve had,” he added.

Hayes, who is married for former Tipperary All-Ireland winner and All-Star Claire Grogan, won’t be lost to Portumna though as he is helping out with the club’s U-6s where his son Eanna plays, with younger brother Barry soon to follow as the cycle begins again for the Hayes and Portumna.

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