Canning receives highly debatable red in Galway and All-Ireland club finalists draw in Tipp

It was a busy day of club hurling action around the country.

LAST UPDATE | 26 Jul 2020

JOE CANNING WAS shown a controversial red card in Galway and 2020 All-Ireland club finalists Borris-Ileigh drew in their Tipperary opener on a busy day of club senior hurling action around the country.

In Galway the major talking point was the debatable decision to dismiss Canning in the second half of his Portumna side’s clash against Sarsfields. The 2017 Hurler of the Year was sent-off when his team trailed 1-16 to 0-16, receiving a second yellow card in contentious fashion after it was deemed he has interfered with the helmet of a Sarsfields opponent.

Jack Canning was later shown a red card as they finished with 13 men and Portumna ultimately lost out 4-22 to 0-18 against Sarsfields.

Cárta dearg bronnta ar Joe Canning @portumnagaa @GAA_BEO @Galway_GAA #GAABEO pic.twitter.com/LWBmEsYIGy
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) July 26, 2020

Kevin Cooney hit the opening goal for Sarsfields but they were only four points ahead, 1-18 to 0-17, in the 55th minute when the floodgates opened and they grabbed three late goals courtesy of Joseph Cooney and Jeffrey Lawless (2).

Watch the Full-Time Highlights of Sarsfields v Portumna in Round 1 of the Galway Senior Hurling Championship here on GAANOW!
Full-Time Score:
Sarsfields: 4-22
Portumna: 0-18 pic.twitter.com/W9P8yhjGgS
— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 26, 2020

The other key Senior A matches in Galway saw Oranmore-Maree defeat Clarinbridge by 1-17 to 0-19 while Capptaggle, semi-finalists for the last two years, defeated Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry by 4-16 to 2-14 with Niall Collins bagging a hat-trick.

In the Tipperary SHC, Borris-Ileigh, who lost out to Ballyhale Shamrocks in Croke Park in the All-Ireland decider in January were in action. They were pegged back by their neighbours Toomevara in a North Tipperary derby as it finished 0-21 to 1-18, Joey McLoughney’s late free levelling the game.

Jerry Kelly shot 0-4 in the first half for the 2019 Tipperary and Munster champions as Borris-Ileigh went ahead 0-12 to 0-10 at the break. A Mark McCarthy goal helped Toomevara draw level before forging ahead in the second half. Borris-Ileigh countered with Brendan Maher shooting 0-4 in the second half and Kelly hit what looked like the winner before Toomevara fought back for a draw.

In the same group in Tipperary, Upperchurch-Drombane were 0-21 to 0-16 victors over Burgess while elsewhere 2018 champions Clonoulty-Rossmore defeated Éire Óg Annacarty by 2-18 to 0-16.

In Clare the last senior hurling game of the weekend saw Ballyea, the champions in 2016 and 2018, defeat Crusheen, title winners in 2010 and 2011, by 0-16 to 0-14 this afternoon.

They join Inagh-Kilnamona, Clonlara, Sixmilebridge, O’Callaghan Mills, Cratloe, Feakle and Wolfe Tones in the winners’ section in the Round 2 draw.

Finally in Waterford there was success for Mount Sion by 1-19 to 1-13 against Clonea in Walsh Park. Mount Sion needed to produce a strong late rally after Clonea had drawn level, 1-13 to 0-16, approaching full-time. The winners had been in control with their 0-12 to 0-4 advantage at the break before Clonea rallied in the second half.