Portumna boss Johnny Kelly admitted that the pressure of winning an unprecedented third AIB All-Ireland club hurling title on the trot may have got to his players.

Making no excuses for his side's loss, which was his first since taking charge, he said: "Maybe it did, subconsciously, maybe it did, I'm not sure.

"We didn't talk about it but maybe at times it seeps into guys and there's very little you can do about that. It's human nature that people clap you on the back. Maybe it did, I'm not sure."

Kelly continued: "We didn't come here to lose but things didn't work out for us and you have to say Ballyhale were the better team on the day. I believe that whoever wins is the better team, so credit to them."

Kelly refused to criticise goalkeeper Ivan Canning whose misplaced hand pass allowed David Hoyne to score the only goal for Ballyhale midway through the second half.

"That goal took the wind out of our sails, but there's no recriminations on our side." Tweet

Most Read Stories