Search Results for 'Joe Canning'

The most invaluable habit to acquire is a winning one. Portumna simply know how to emerge victorious, and yesterday at Pearse Stadium it wasn’t about being slick or stylish, what mattered was substance.

Greatness is often an over-used term in a sporting context. To some it's seen as the accumulation of titles, medals, and personal accolades over a sporting career. To others, it's the delivery of the perfect season or performance when the occasion demands it most. Whatever your defintion, Joe Canning certainly fits the bill. Even at the tender age of 20, Canning has already compiled a CV bulging with many of the game's highest honours. Yesterday was another demonstration of his extraordinary talent as his 0-10 assisted Portumna to their fourth Galway SHC title. However, it was a day when the current GAA All-Star and Young Hurler of the Year was outshone by his team-mates.

All three Kilkenny county champions negotiated their first round Leinster Championship matches last weekend, junior champion's Tullogher Rosbercon got the ball rolling in the best possible way by beating St Peregrines/Trinity Gael's of Dublin by 6 points in O'Toole Park on Saturday. Sunday saw Nowlan Park play host to a double header, intermediate champion’s Erin’s Own of Castlecomer pitted themselves against Carlow senior winners, Naomh Bríd of Old Leighlin. This game went down to the wire. The Comer men eventually came out on top by 2 points in what was described as a cracking game. The Old Leighlin men are very passionate about their hurling, they went to war last Sunday without their veteran centre back and former county and Leinster star, Johnny Nevin, who was away in Australia on over 40s duty. Nevin may be getting on, but by all accounts he still has the drive and passion to compete at the highest level. Comer's cause was helped in the first half by goals from Davy Buggy and Jimmy Byrne, they had to withstand a lot of pressure in the second half before coming out on top. Their next hurdle is Blackwater of Wexford.

Portumna validated their credentials as Galway’s top hurling club when they claimed back-to-back titles and their fourth in six years.

It is a case of third time lucky for John McIntyre - the newly appointed manager of Galway hurling.

The John McIntyre era commences at O'Connor Park on Sunday when Galway make the short trip to Tullamore for a Walsh Cup clash with Offaly.

It is the contest that is gripping hurling enthusiasts throughout the land. The country’s dominant clubs over the past three years, Portumna and Ballyhale Shamrocks, will meet for the first time in Sunday's All Ireland Senior Club Championship semi-finals at Semple Stadium (2.30pm).

Kilkenny, despite playing below par, picked up two valuable national hurling league points at Nowlan Park last Sunday. It took a last gasp point by Rower Inistioge's Michael Grace to snatch victory from a youthful and spirited Limerick side.

My brother’s father-in-law, Johnny Carty, is a hail and hearty 80-years-old, a Wexford man (Rathnure) who loves most sports, but especially hurling.

My brother’s father-in-law, Johnny Carty, is a hearty 80-year-old Wexford man (Rathnure) who loves most sports, but especially hurling.