HAVING missed out on a crack at Ulster two years ago, Portaferry stalwart Caolan Taggart is relishing a return to the provincial stage – and a showdown with current kingpins Slaughtneil.
The Ports’ 2020 journey went no further after they had toppled Ballycran in the Down decider, with all provincial competitions cancelled as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, after suffering the pain of extra-time defeat to Ballycran in last year’s final, a late penalty from man-of-the-match Ronan Blair helped Karol Keating’s men edge across the line against their most familiar foes at a rain-lashed Pairc Esler on Sunday.
As well as bringing the Jeremiah McVeagh Cup back to Portaferry, the prize for that success is an Ulster semi-final date with Slaughtneil at Corrigan Park on November 20.
Considering the Emmett’s have claimed the provincial crown on four of the last five occasions the competition has run, they remain the ultimate acid test in Ulster club hurling – and Taggart is looking forward to the challenge.
“It feels amazing,” said the 27-year-old.
“From that time, we’ve waited to get our hands on it again and get that crack. It was sad we didn’t get a go then because we had a good team, but this year we have a pile of young ones coming through - 18, 19-year-olds who are eager to get at it. We could’ve probably fielded another team out there with young ones, so they deserve a chance at it.
“We’ve been building all year for this. ‘Mursur’ [Keating] and Gavan [Duffy] came in and this is all we wanted to do. I know we won the Antrim league but this is where we wanted to be – back on top. Now all we want to do is have a good go at Slaughtneil.
“They’re a great team, there’s no getting away from that. They know what winning feels like and they want to keep it that way, but at the same time we’re going up there to win - we’re not going up there to take part.
“Anyone can be beaten any day, and we’re up for it.”
Taggart knows that from experience as, along with former goalkeeper Keating, he was part of the Portaferry side that defeated Cushendall to lift the Four Seasons Cup in 2014.
With a crop of exciting youngsters like Pearse Smyth, Ronan Smyth and Tom McGrattan making their presence felt in the senior ranks, the future looks bright for Portaferry.
Even after losing captain Connor Mageean to a red card midway through the second half, heads didn’t go down, and Taggart says that is testament to the mentality of the panel.
“We’ve been talking loads this year, having meetings and just saying no matter what happens, it’s not going to faze us.
“Ballycran could’ve put two goals in there and I don’t think it would’ve fazed us. The second Connor got sent off, albeit it’s a setback, but the objective remained the same – win at all costs.”
Victory sent the travelling support home happy but, although it is the second year in-a-row the county hurling final has taken place in Newry, Taggart remains unconvinced that Pairc Esler is the place for the Down decider.
“If we were beat I’d probably say we wanted it in Ballygalget,” he smiled.
“But like, even the county players, 90 per cent of us are from the Ards. To me this isn’t the home of Down hurley - it’s Portaferry, Ballygalget or Ballycran.
“So for us to travel all the way over to here, especially with the cost of living crisis, to get these people to travel all the way to Newry… it’s mad. But look, we’ll take it wherever it is as long as the cup comes home to Portaferry.”
