Kevin Hayes opened the scoring with a point after 30 seconds for the first time Connacht champions before David Canning and Dunloy half forward Paddy Richmond exchanged points.

Galway county star Damien Hayes pointed on 16 minutes for a 0-3 to 0-2 lead before he netted superbly from 30 metres two minutes later.

The Ulster men did not hang around to reply as Richmond, after some silky stick work by Greg O’Kane, netted a reply to move within a point behind.

Points from play from Ollie Canning and Frank Canning on 29 and 32 minutes looked to have given the Galway men a half time lead, but centre half forward Colm McGuckian swept home Dunloy’s second goal 50 seconds from the whistle to edge them in front, 2-3 to 1-5.

Portumna regained the lead through Frank Canning and Andrew Smith before Dunloy’s run of seven consecutive strikes between 43 and 50 minutes put them 2-10 to 1-09 in front.

Frank Canning replied for the Galway men with a free four minutes later, cancelling out Greg O’Kane’s first point and they were thrown a late lifeline 11 minutes from the end, as Kevin Hayes goaled from eight yards out.

That put five points between the sides, and Ollie Canning was desperately close to levelling the match up in injury time but his goal shot went left and wide, seeing Dunloy through to their fourth ever AIB final.