Former Dublin hurling manager Mattie Kenny helped Portumna secure their first AIG Men’s Pierce Purcell All-Ireland title.
Portumna defeated Cobh in the men’s final while Naas claimed their club’s first ever green pennant with a thrilling victory over Cahir Park after extra holes in the AIG Women’s Intermediate Foursomes.
The weather took a turn for the better in Ennis on Saturday and Portumna were first to win their silverware, with a 3-1 victory, with ex-Cuala manager Kenny and Pat Healy leading out with a 4&2 win in the top match.
“It’s a great honour for Portumna, the alerts coming through on the phones, all the people who couldn’t be here today wishing us well,” said O’Meara.
“It’s our first Pierce Purcell which is a very prestigious title to win, we’ve been trying for a good many years now, been in a couple of All-Ireland semi-finals. So it was great to get over the line.
“It’s a big deal, it’s hard enough to get into an All-Ireland final. We have an All-Ireland Junior Cup, we’ve been beaten in a couple of Jimmy Bruen semi-finals, we’ve been beaten in the semi-final of the Pierce Purcell.
“It’s a great honour and a great achievement.”
Portumna also had a comprehensive win from the duo of Greg Kennedy and Matthew O’Gara, while the other two matches finished all-square.
The women’s final went to extra holes when Naas held their nerve to bounce back from two defeats, to win the two remaining matches against Cahir Park.
Caitlin Fitzgerald and Joanne Quaid won the third match and sisters Michelle and Emma Keating claimed what looked like another crucial victory for Cahir Park.
However, Anne Flanagan and Mary Renaghan were 2up winners and then Caroline Brogan and Louise Quinn forced the decider to the 19th.
Brogan and Quinn were called upon again and they eventually did enough to see off Michelle Keating and Emma Keating for a history making win.
“What a panel, all year we chopped and changed, and then we have to go down 19 and we pick a particular pair but when I said to the girls they have to go down 19 they said, okay we’ll do it for the club,” said Murray.
“It’s fantastic, first green pennant for Naas across the board. We did it today, it’s such an achievement. We lost the two matches but they dug in and I just walked along with them trying to get them to breathe.”
View the final scoring here
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