Portaferry reclaim Down hurling crown

Ronan Smyth of Portaferry. Pic: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Down SHC final: Ballycran 0-16 Portaferry 0-20 

Portaferry reclaimed their crown of Down Senior Hurling Champions in Pairc Esler on Sunday after a mighty battle with familiar foes Ballycran.

It was inevitable that these two teams would be contesting the final, as they’ve done so for the past six years.

While Portaferry might have been seen as the slight favourites coming into the final as holders, Ballycran beat them earlier in this campaign, so all bets were off on Sunday.

It proved to be the close contest that everyone expected too, with a scintillating second half that saw the teams level from 0-14 each right up to the four minutes of stoppage time when Portaferry pulled away.

Portaferry got off to a flying start and had notched up four scores while Ballycran had just one and four wides in that opening 10-minute spell.

Michael Ennis’ men were almost level however when a poor backpass by Darragh Mallon to his keeper Pearce Smyth went astray and the sliothar almost ended up in his own net. 

The play ended up with former Newry Shamrocks man Paul Sheehan converting a ’65.

It remained close, but with the scoreboard reading 0-07 to 0-05 in favour of Portaferry, a late surge before the break saw Ballycran lead 0-08 to 0-07 at the short whistle when Stuart Martin hit a brace and then Phelim Savage did likewise to put Ballycran in front for the first time in the game.

Ballycran, leading 0-08 to 0-07, made Portaferry wait on the pitch before they appeared for the second half. Stuart Martin nabbed the first point but Man-of-the-Match Barry Trainor quickly replied and the teams were level again when Paudy Conlan converted a free.

As the contest progressed the teams remained inseparable, as Portaferry hit three points in a row, but Ballycran responded in kind. 

Their talisman Conor Woods sparked to life in the second period, but ultimately it wasn’t enough for Ballycran.

The sides were level three times from 0-14 apiece before Christopher Egan gave Portaferry the edge 0-17 to 0-16 as the four minutes stoppage time began.

Still, it was anyone’s game when Liam Savage dropped a high ball into their keeper's hands and Portaferry were called into action at the back.

They defended well and it was all over when full-back Tom Murray gave Gerard McGrattan’s men the narrowest of leads and that point was swiftly followed by another from Tom McGrattan. 

The cheers were already ringing out around Pairc Esler by then, as the Ports knew they were home and dry when Eoin Sands sent a free over the bar to seal the victory.

Scorers for Ballycran: P Sheehan (0-04, 2 free, 1 ’65), S Martin (0-04), C Woods (0-3, 1 free), P Savage (0-02); M Hughes, S Nicholsan, C Egan (0-01 each) 

Scorers for Portaferry: E Sands (0-04, 1 free), T McGrattan (0-04), D Sands (0-04), M Conlan (0-02), P Conlan (0-02, frees), F Turpin (0-02), T Murray and B Trainor (0-01 each) 

Ballycran: S Keith; J Clarke, S Ennis, G Hughes; B Nicholson, L Savage, C McAllister; M Hughes, P Savage; B Arthurs, C Woods, P Sheehan; S Nicholsan, S Martin, C Egan 

Subs: N Breen for Ennis (38), E Bell for Nicholson (44), B Watson for Clarke (50), J Coyle for Egan (52), A Gleeson for Sheehan (56) 

Portaferry: P Smyth; D Mallon, T Murray, R Smyth; B Trainor, C Taggart, C Savage; M Conlan, S Conlan; P Conlan, F Turpin, E Sands; T McGrattan, N Milligan, D Sands 

Subs: C O’Neill for Mallon (H-T), N Fitzsimmons for P Conlon (49), C Fay for Milligan (50), C O’Prey for Savage (60+1) 

Referee: Peter Owens (Liatroim)