Portaferry seconds beat favourites to lift Templeton Cup

10 May 2017

PORTAFERRY seconds drowned Shamrock in a sea of efficiency and with a minimum of fuss to lift the Templeton Cup for the first time at Seaview last Tuesday night.

Few pundits gave Portaferry much of a chance against a side who had earlier in the season beaten them twice in the league andrecently clinched promotion into Division 3C after finishing second to East Belfast.

However, manager Paul Convery, who only took over the reins in mid-season, got his tactics spot on and swamped the Belfast side in midfield before unleashing Darren Berry on them down the left flank.

Berry’s pace, allied to Paul Milligan’s virtuoso performance as playmaker, was just too much for Shamrock and despite a lot of huff and puff from them after the break, Portaferry never really looked like losing this game.

Shamrock settled immediately from kick off and with two minutes on the clock, Aaron Stewart played a delightful ball into the path of James McGuire, but an alert Bobby Curran did enough to put him off as they entered the box.

Two minutes later Shamrock’s Tony McGuire crossed for Ciaran Curley, but Andy Sands made a comfortable save.

Portaferry showed Shamrock how it’s done in the sixth minute when James McGrath ghosted onto a Berry corner and headed home at the near post.

Shamrock were able to carve out a few openings after this reversal, but Stewart shot wide before firing in a tantalising cross that begged to be put away.

The action was fast and furious at this stage and with 11 minutes gone Conal Fitzsimons twisted and turned his marker after linking up brilliantly with Berry to make it 2-0 with a clinical strike from just outside the box.

Tony McGuire tried desperately to get something going for Shamrock, but any time he did get past Curran and Ruairi Watson, Sands was unbeatable.

With 27 minutes gone Fitzsimons had a shot spilled by ‘keeper Simon McKenna, but the big striker was unable to take advantage.

Portaferry continued to look for an insurance goal and Fitzsimons was out of luck on two occasions before Tony McGuire blasted over after good work from James McGuire.

Two minutes after the break Milligan threaded a sublime ball into the path of the willing Fitzsimons, but he shot narrowly wide.

Two minutes later at the other end, Sands saved superbly from Tony McGuire and the Ports survived a hectic goalmouth scramble before Fitzsimons got get his second goal. He intercepted an intended back pass to the ‘keeper and went it alone to make it 3-0.

Portaferry simply closed up shop after this with Milligan sitting in front of his back four and patrolling his area with relish.

Shamrock dominated possession for remainder of the game, but they were unable to breach a resolute back four of Andy Mason, Curran, Watson and Conor Hynds.

Sands was also in formidable form and one save in particular to keep out a free kick from James McGuire was out of the top drawer.

Portaferry were worthy winners and this victory more than made up for a defeat to Basement Young Men in the 2014 decider.

Portaferry II: A Sands, C Hynds, A Mason, R Watson, B Curran, P Milligan, M Miskelly, J McGrath, C Fitzsimons, F Kelly, D Berry. Subs: G Curran, C Trainor, M Miskelly.

Shamrock FC II: S McKenna, A Stewart, John McGuire, A Murphy, M Markey, A McBride, T McGuire, S Murphy, James McGuire, H Martin, C Curley. Subs: C Gilmore, J Tierney, D Carson.

Portaferry II 3

Shamrock FC II 0

TEMPLETON CUP FINAL

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