DESPITE the fact there are just three teams in the Down Senior Hurling Championship, Ballycran are this weekend seeking what’s become a rare piece of history.
Since Kilclief won three in-a-row in the mid–1950s, the St Joseph’s club have shared all of the last 60 county titles with their Ards neighbours Ballygalget and Portaferry. And yet, it’s been 11 years since any of the trio won back-to-back titles. Since Ballygalget’s triple success from 2003 until '05, the trophy has changed residence each winter.
Form has little bearing. 2014 Ulster champions Portaferry played Division One hurling in Antrim this year and, although it was a struggle, they still had played more quality opposition than their semi-final opponents Ballygalget. So, of course, Ballygalget won to set up a repeat of last year’s decider, in which Ballycran hit the last 1-4 without reply to snatch a two-point win - having lost the previous year’s decider by a point to Portaferry.
For Ballycran and Down goalkeeper Stephen Keith, the destination of the title comes down to one thing and one thing only - desire: “Between those three teams, it’s all on the day. There’s no favourites in Down, ever. We’ve found that out the hard way the last couple of years," he said.
“A lot of the time, it doesn’t [go to form]. Sometimes, you’re sitting too long without a game. I think, sometimes, one of the worst things you can do is go and watch the semi-final with the other two teams, you’re coming away thinking this and that…”
So did you go? “I did, aye,” he laughs.
“It was tight. It was just typical Down championship - whoever wants it most on the day wins it. It’s all on the day with those three teams.”
Quite often in the last decade, the bye to the final has been a poisoned chalice. They’ve become a sitting duck, hoping for a decent game in the Antrim league to keep them up to speed. Ballycran’s early season form pointed towards a struggle, but victories over Cushendall, St John’s, Portaferry and Ballycastle kept them safe and bricklayer Keith admits playing in Antrim is a struggle for the Down clubs unless they have a full hand.
“The league hasn’t been great, but we came good near the end of it. Different boys were injured throughout the year and the Antrim leagues are so competitive," he added.
“If you’re missing one or two players, you’re not going to win. The Down teams need their full panel of players fit and available to play Antrim league. Boys being on holidays and injured, one game we had a stag do where we were missing seven or eight players, and we can’t compete with that. We’ve had injuries the past few months, but everyone’s back training hard.”
The championship has threatened expansion in recent years, with both Bredagh and Kilclief briefly trying their hand. But they both had it slapped so hard they didn’t come back. Liatroim’s recent underage success suggests they will make the move up sooner or later and Keith would welcome them - as long as they bring a competitive challenge.
“I think it does need another team but, on the other hand, they can come in and get a hammering and that’s no use to the Ards clubs or the other clubs themselves,” said Keith.
“No disrespect, but winning by 20 points is no preparation for a championship final. You’re nearly better having an Antrim league match two or three weeks out.”
