Canning can’t save Portumna as Craughwell reach final four

JOE Canning was Portumna’s only scorer as Craughwell, who haven’t lifted the trophy since 1931, beat them 0-15 to 0-12 in the quarterfinals of the Galway SHC.

And they weren’t the only former All-Ireland champions to bite the dust over the weekend as Cappataggle beat Sarsfields 0-19 to 0-14 to reach their first semi-final.

Gort will meet Craughwell for a place in the final after Aidan Harte scored the crucial goal as they beat Killimordaly 1-25 to 2-16.

Liam Mellows and Clarinbridge will have to meet again to decide the last team through to the last four.

Elsewhere, defending All-Ireland champions Cuala took another step to retaining their crown by beating St Vincent’s 4-16 to 2-16 in their Dublin semi-final at Parnell Park to set up a repeat of last year’s final against Kilmacud Crokes, who defeated Lucan Sarsfields 1-13 to 0-13.

Cuala looked in trouble as they went in at half-time only four points ahead despite having played with the benefit of a strong breeze in the opening half.

And their situation looked more precarious within three minutes of the restart, with Vincent’s having trimmed the deficit to a point. But, although Cian McBride brought the sides level in the 47th minute, the Vincent’s challenge petered out.

Sean Moran was central to Cuala regaining control and Con O’Callaghan’s 54th-minute goal effectively sealed the issue.

Crokes were indebted to Ross O’Carroll, who pounced for the pivotal goal of their game with only two minutes left.

He fired past Lucan sub-goalie David Quinn, who had joined the fray less than a minute earlier, after a Caolan Conway point attempt had rebounded off an upright.