Portaferry face champs next in Ulster decider

17 October 2012

AFTER an absence of ten years, Portaferry are back in the Ulster Club Senior Hurling Championship final.

The Down champions cruised to victory in a one-sided semi-final at Casement Park on Sunday.

The Ports have never won the Ulster title and they have a tough task on their hands against All-Ireland champions Loughgiel in the decider at Casement Park on October 28.

In a good all-round display, all the Portaferry starting forwards got on the score sheet.

It was just about one-way traffic from the start. John Convery opened the scoring in the sixth minute. Twelve minutes, the Ards aces had raced into a 0-8 to 0-0 lead.

Swatragh reduced to deficit to six, but four points on the trot meant that Portaferry held a commanding 0-12 to 0-2 lead at the break.

The Derry side had a chance of finding the back of the net from the penalty spot following a foul of Sean McNicholl, but Portaferry keeper Karol Keating saved Michael Fitzpatrick’s attempt on goal.

Swatragh hopes were briefly raised by a goal early in the second half, but the deadly Paul Branniff scored four quickfire points — he finished with 11 in all — meant that the outcome was never in doubt.

Swatragh suffered a blow when Ruairi Convery was sent off after 43 minutes. The Derry side added a couple of frees, but late scores by Brendan Coleman, , Conway and Connor O’Prey were the icing on the cake for Portaferry.

Delighted Portaferry manager Noel Sands said afterwards: “Any team that takes 23 scores with our backs holding them to 1-6 is a very good performance.

“We have a good mix of youth and experience. There are a core of guys who are 23 or 24, as well as experienced players like Andy Savage, Paul Braniff and Stephen Murray, and some young minors coming through.

“We set ourselves goals at the start of the season — to stay out of relegation, to win the Down Championship and to get to an Ulster final.

“We’re in an Ulster final, and we know Loughgiel are further progressed than us. They want to win back-to-back All-Irelands, prove they are a successful team, but if our progression means that we can go to Loughgiel and give them a game.”

Portaferry: K. Keating; C. O’Prey (0-1, free), C. O’Neill, N. White; M. Conlon, C. Coulter, Barry Coleman; A. Savage, F. Rodgers; A. O’Prey (0-1), J. Convery (0-2), S. Murray (0-2); C. Mageean (0-3), P. Braniff (0-11, 0-7 frees), E. Sands (0-2). Subs: J. Trainor for White, N. Kelly for Sands, Brendan Coleman (0-1, free) for Rodgers. G. Coffey for O’Neill.

Swatragh: C. O’Kane; N. O’Doherty, S. McFerran, P. O’Kane; S. Bradley, M. Kirkpatrick, C. Quinn; M. O’Hagan, C. McQuillan; D. McGuckin, S. McQuillan (0-1), M. Conway; C. Convery (0-2, frees), M. McKenna, R. Convery (1-2, 0-1 free). Subs: S. McNicholl for McQuillan, M. Kirkpatrick for P. O’Kane, T. McCloy for McGuckin, D. McAlary for McKenna, K. McKeague for Conway.

Referee: O. Elliott (Antrim).

Portaferry 0-23

Swatragh 1-6

ULSTER CLUB SHC SEMI-FINAL

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