See tomorrow's Irish News for Kenny Archer's full report from Portaferry as Ballycran leave it late against Ballygalget in the Down SHC final
Ballycran 1-15 Ballygalget 0-16
THIS was a triumph for perseverance and traditional tactics, albeit with a twist, even if the better team for much of the match ended up losing in a thrilling finale.
On a day when it looked like they would never find the net, Ballycran sent a big man - Paul 'Skimpy' Miskimmin - on into the forefront of their attack in the closing miinutes and reaped the rewards.
Trailing by three points on the hour, Miskimmin rose to challenge for a long ball in from fellow substitute Connor Dorrian, and the sliotar at last got past Ballygalget goalkeeper Graham Clarke only for the match officials to controversially rule it ouut for a 'square ball' offence.
That seemed to ensure this would be the first Down hurling decider without any goals for many years, but Ballycran finally found the net and it made a major difference. Ballycran and Miskimmin refused to accept defeat and the big man set up another sub, Benny Ennis, with a clever cross-field pass, and he fired low into the corner.
Even then that 62nd minute goal only levelled matters at 1-13 to 0-16 but, having been second best for much of this match, the St Joseph's had the momentum in the closing moments. Six minutes of added time were announced just after the net had rippled and Ballycran bossed them, midfielder Scott Nicholson adding a point and a free.
Those scores meant his team had rattled off 1-4 without reply from the 49th minute onwards, clearly a game-changing and -winning swing.
Scenes of celebration after @BallycranGAA snatch a dramatic victory in the @OfficialDownGAA SHC Final pic.twitter.com/NKAPipl87F
— Irish News Sport (@irishnewssport) September 27, 2015
