Hurling & Camogie

Ballycran aiming to move step closer to crack at third title in-a-row

Liam Savage has been in good form for Ballycran as they have moved to the top of the Down championship group at the midway point. Picture by Seamus Loughran
Liam Savage has been in good form for Ballycran as they have moved to the top of the Down championship group at the midway point. Picture by Seamus Loughran Liam Savage has been in good form for Ballycran as they have moved to the top of the Down championship group at the midway point. Picture by Seamus Loughran

Morgan Fuels Down Senior Hurling Championship

DEFENDING champions Ballycran and Portaferry will bid to move a step closer to securing their spot in the Down decider when they meet in Ballycran tomorrow (5pm).

It’s three down and three to go in the championship group, with the top two facing off in the county final. At the midway point it is Ballycran and Portaferry - who have gone toe-to-toe in the last two finals - with the edge.

Sitting pretty on six points at the top of the table, victory tomorrow would all but guarantee the Crans a crack at lifting the Jeremiah McVeigh Cup for the third time on the spin.

And, with three wins so far, they have looked a cut above, demonstrating the calm composure of a side that is used to winning and whose feathers don’t get ruffled even when things aren’t going their way.

In the opening round of fixtures, goals from Niall Milligan and Conor Mageean helped Portaferry into the lead but Ballycran showed all their experience to work their way back into the game, eventually coming away with a one-point win.

Ballycran were then put to the pin of their collars against Ballygalget days later, but assumed control after forcing the game into extra-time. Such experience and ability to adapt in trying circumstances are the hallmarks of a quality side.

Portaferry can take plenty from that first meeting between the sides, though there are lessons to be learnt too. On the night they gave away too many cheap frees, meat and drink to somebody of Conor Woods’s class, and will need to be more disciplined defensively tomorrow.

Up front, they have scoring power at every turn courtesy of the Sands brothers, Eoghan and Daithi, while young Padraig Doran has shown his quality throughout. The reliable Ronan Blair is still working his way back to fitness after a troublesome hamstring injury but could well be called upon as the stakes are upped heading down the final furlong.

In tomorrow’s other game, Bredagh continue their first senior championship campaign when they host Ballygalget in Carryduff (2pm).

After putting it up to Ballygalget on the first weekend of games, the city side have found the going tough, suffering heavy defeats to Portaferry and Ballycran. For them, though, this year is all about gaining experience at this level, and they have shown they are capable of competing.

’Galget forward Danny Toner suffered a nasty knee injury in their victory over Bredagh and looks set for an extended spell on the sidelines. A young Ballygalget side is also without another talented forwar, as Caolan Bailie is in Australia, but won’t have given up hope of forcing their way back into the reckoning for a final spot.