Portumna 2-13 Loughmore-Castleiney 2-09

Joe Canning was a central figure at the Gaelic Grounds this afternoon as 2006 champions Portumna won through to their second All-Ireland club hurling final in three years.

One of four Cannings in the Galway side, the strapping full-forward scored 1-03 as the men from the west took a 1-05 to 0-04 lead into the second half.

Loughmore-Castleiney, appearing in their first All-Ireland semi-final, fought on with Noel McGrath and Micheal Webster both registering goals, but a Niall Hayes major settled the issue and set up a mouth-watering Portumna v Birr decider on March 17.

Portumna manager Jimmy Heverin will have his fingers crossed that his star man Canning avoids injury when trying to help Limerick IT retain the Fitzgibbon Cup title in Cork next weekend.

Despite fears over a hamstring tear, the 19-year-old powerhouse still managed to crush Loughmore-Castleiney's dreams of reaching the final with a terrific haul of 1-09.

Canning and company were left trailing in the Tipperary side's wake though as they moved impressively into an early 0-03 to 0-00 lead.

Facing into the wind, points from 17-year-old attacker Noel McGrath (0-02) and Evan Sweeney, the son of team manager Eamon, saw the Tipp men canter ahead.

Portumna took their time to settle and for McGrath's second point, goalkeeper Ivan Canning had been penalised for taking a puck-out from outside the small parallelogram.

By that stage, Portumna had missed two chances to open their account with Canning wayward from a 100-yard free and the All-Ireland Under-21 winner also scooped a line ball across the face of goal.

But he was right on the money when he raced through to net a ninth-minute goal.

Canning, who had cryotherapy sessions to help his hamstring injury, took the ball on 40 yards out and managed to outdo Derek Bourke for pace before shortening his grip and finding the Loughmore-Castleiney net from a tight angle.

Helped by their short-passing style, the Connacht champions took a four-point lead into the break. Sweeney supplied the underdogs' fourth point in the 26th-minute.

Although Eddie Connolly pointed for Loughmore-Castleiney just 15 seconds after the resumption, Canning increased his influence by firing over the next three points to hand Portumna a 1-08 to 0-05 advantage.

It was a family affair in the 43rd-minute when Damien Hayes, who ran his legs into the ground, supplied the pass for his brother Niall to goal from 13 metres out.

Portumna were now cruising and Loughmore-Castleiney were soon down to 14 men. They lost corner back Paul Ormond to a second bookable offence.

An All-Ireland winner with Tipp in 2001, Ormond was initially booked in first half injury-time and he saw red in the 45th-minute for a frontal challenge on Damien Hayes in the lead-up to the goal.

Despite their numerical disadvantage and being 2-11 to 0-07 behind with eight minutes remaining, Loughmore-Castleiney rallied in the closing stages to find the net twice.

McGrath, one of Tipperary's best minor talents, set up Webster's goal and then scored one himself in the 58th-minute after collecting a long ball in towards the danger area.

In front of a 5,600-strong crowd, the Munster champions reduced the arrears further with an injury-time point from Sweeney but two late efforts from Canning copper-fastened the westerners' win.

PORTUMNA: I Canning; M Gill, E McEntee, O Canning; G Heagney, M Ryan, P Smith; L Smith, E Lynch; A Smith, K Hayes (0-02), N Hayes (1-00); D Hayes (0-01), J Canning (1-09, 0-06f), D Canning (0-01).

Sub used: A O'Donnell for Gill (60+3 mins).

LOUGHMORE-CASTLEINEY: J Gleeson; A Stapleton, D Bourke, P Ormond; E Ryan, D Kennedy, T King; C McGrath, G Sweeney; E Sweeney (0-03, 0-01f, 0-01 '65'), D McGrath, N McGrath (1-04, 0-02f, 0-01 '65'); E Connolly (0-01), M Webster (1-01), P Brennan.

Sub used: D Brennan for P Brennan (52 mins).

Referee: Anthony Stapleton (Laois)