Ballycran 0-16 Portaferry 0-20
Portaferry claimed their 22nd Senior Hurling Championship in Páirc Esler on Sunday after a hard-fought clash of the ash against arch-rivals Ballycran.
There was no surprise that it was the two Ards teams who reached the last two, given that they've both dominated Down hurling for many years, meeting in the last seven finals.
Portaferry were the victors last year and while Ballycran beat them in the group stages of this competition, it was anyone’s pick who would take the honours in the final.
It was still a guessing game as this match headed into stoppage time, but on this occasion, Portaferry pulled away in the last minute of time added on to reclaim the Cup.
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. As it was though it rolled over the line for a ’65 that Paul Sheehan, who was in familiar territory back at his former club Newry Shamrocks’ ground, sent between the sticks.
Scott Nicholson tagged on a point for the Crans to narrow the margin to a point 0-04 to 0-03 midway through the half, but Portaferry kept their noses in front, for the time being, with three of the next five scores courtesy of Tom McGrattan with two, either side of a free converted by Paddy Conlon.
Sheehan had also pointed from a free, but with the scoreboard reading 0-07 to 0-05 in favour of Portaferry, a late surge before the break saw Ballycran lead at the short whistle.
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. 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.
The contest remained on a knife edge as the second half progressed, with Portaferry hitting three points in a row, but Ballycran responded in kind - two from Conor Woods, who sparked to life in the second period.
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.
And Portaferry held firm after Liam Savage dropped a high ball into their keepers hands. They defended well in their square before full back Tom Murray gave Gerard McGrattan’s men the narrowest of leads. That point was quickly followed by another from Tom McGrattan and the Ports knew they were home and dry when Eoin Sands sent a free over the bar to seal the championship for a second year in a row.
Ballycran: Stephen Keith; James Clarke, Sean Ennis, Gerard Hughes; Brett Nicholson, Liam Savage, Cormac McAllister; Michael Hughes (0-01), Pheilum Savage (0-02); Ben Arthurs, Conor Woods (0-3, 1 free), Paul Sheehan (0-04, 2 free, 1 '65); Scott Nicholsan (0-01), Stuart Martin (0-04), Christopher Egan (0-01)
Subs: Niall Breen for Ennis (38), Ethan Bell for Nicholson (44), Brad Watson for Clarke (50), James Coyle for Egan (52), Aryton Gleeson for Sheehan (56)
Portaferry: Pearce Smyth; Darragh Mallon, Tom Murray (0-01), Ronan Smyth; Barry Trainor (0-01), Caolan Taggart, Ciaran Savage; Matthew Conlan (0-02), Shane Conlan; Paudy Conlan (0-02, frees), Finn Turpin (0-02), Eoghan Sands (0-04, 1 free)); Tom McGrattan (0-04), Niall Milligan, Daithi Sands (0-04)
Subs: Conor O’Neill for Mallon (H-T), Niall Fitzsimmons for P Conlon (49), Conor Fay for Milligan (50), Conor O’Prey for Savage (60+1)
Referee: Peter Owens (Liatroim)
