Morgan Fuels Down Senior Hurling Championship final: Portaferry 0-20 Ballycran 0-16
IT will always be the same among the granite-willed of the Ards peninsula. Flip a coin any year over the last six and it could have been Portaferry or Ballycran lifting the Jeremiah McVeagh Cup.
Yesterday, it was Portaferry’s turn. In fact, it was their turn last season too and the first time in 20 years they’ve managed back-to-back county championships.
As always, this one was hard-earned in a final that ebbed and flowed. It was the kind of decider where momentum shifted a thousand times, but going down the home straight, it was Portaferry who cut loose to win by four points.
Daithi and Eoghan Sands, Portaferry’s go-to men, were placed under house arrest by ‘Cran for large swathes of the game – but all the two brothers ever need is one square yard of space to make an impact.
With the game locked at 0-16 apiece after a wonderful equaliser from Ballycran’s perpetual danger man Stuart Martin in the 59th minute, Daithi Sands intervened.
Latching onto a long, rangy puck-out from the hugely impressive Pearce Smyth in the Portaferry goal, the younger Sands got hands on leather and broke free to split Ballycran’s posts in the last minute of normal time.
It was the score that broke ‘Cran’s stout resistance.
In stoppage-time, Portaferry drove it home with Tom Murray, Tom McGrattan and man-of-the-match Barry Trainor firing over from difficult angles and distances. The winning margin was four – but it felt much smaller.
Despite trailing 0-12 to 0-9 on 41 minutes, Ballycran built up a head of steam and looked like they had the beating of their neighbours, tying the game up, 0-13 apiece, thanks to Paul Sheehan’s third placed ball of the afternoon and back-to-back beauties from the ageless Conor Woods.
‘Cran forged ahead by a point with a 50th minute Sheehan free and again in the 54th minute through the dead-eyed accuracy of Phelim Savage - but in the last seven minutes, Portaferry out-scored their rivals 0-6 to 0-1 to get over the line.
In his first year as manager, Gerard McGrattan paid tribute to the fitness and composure of his players in those clutch moments towards the end.
“We did a lot of work on our fitness and I thought it showed. We’ve always said about having a strong squad and being able to use it in the right moments and I think today a bit of experience and the bench got us over the line.
“Fair to the lads,” McGrattan added, “they were always composed and we talked about Ballycran having a purple patch. We were able to regroup and reset and, in fairness, the lads were mentally strong towards the end.”
Standing at pitch-side, the Down hurling Allstar was delighted for his club to get another crack at Ulster after not doing themselves justice against Slaughtneil last year.
“Our plan was always to win the county title,” said McGrattan, whose side face Antrim champions Cushendall in the Ulster semi-finals on November 19.
“It’s 20 years since we’ve done back-to-back championships and that was the first objective. We knew we had the talent to do it, and I know in the last six finals against ourselves and Ballycran either team could have won them, but deep down, the lads know they didn’t do themselves justice last year against Slaughtneil.
“We know Cushendall will be a big test. We’ll celebrate for a few days, but we’ll regroup.”
The Ballycran club was plunged into mourning in the lead-up to yesterday's decider following the death of esteemed member and Irish News journalist Dawn Egan, aged 56.
Dawn was married to Mark Egan, the current Ballycran chairman, and her son Chrissy lined out yesterday at number 15.
Chrissy grabbed arguably the score of this final after just three minutes, soaring into the air to catch Sheehan’s raking pass before spinning and finding his range.
It was art in motion.
Given the emotion of the last few days, it was quite remarkable to see him out on the field at all, competing heroically for every ball, doing himself, his family and club proud.
Before Egan was called ashore in the 53rd minute, Portaferry full-back Tom Murray, who enjoyed a fantastic duel with him on the edge of the square, ran to shake his hand.
Applause rang out from the main stand and Chrissy Egan returned the gesture as he made his way to the Ballycran bench. Displaying courage beyond comprehension.
“I was at the wake the other night,” said McGrattan.
“I’ve known Mark for a long time. He’s a real genuine man who he puts a lot of effort into Ballycran. My heart goes out to him.
“Yes, winning a championship is one thing but what the Egan family has gone through, that’s real life... I went to Chrissy and Mark after the match because they’re hurting. It’s so raw.”
Defeated manager Michael Ennis said: “Our thoughts were with the Egan family all week. We probably had a quieter build-up than normal.
“We’ve lost a hurling match today, but they lost their mother and wife, so our thoughts will still be with the Egan family, and we’ll help them over the winter wherever we can.”
Egan and Martin were causing the Portaferry defence a few problems in the early exchanges while Phelim Savage’s classy back-to-back scores just before the break pushed ‘Cran one ahead at the break [0-8 to 0-7].
But Portaferry responded every time.
They might have been giving away some significant height and weight advantages but defenders Trainor, Caolan Taggart, Murray and second-half substitute Conor O’Neill stood strong when their rivals were asking serious questions of them.
Portaferry are champions again - but Ballycran won't be going away.
"We're so proud of all the boys for their commitment this year," said Ennis. "But we will be back again."
Portaferry: P Smyth; D Mallon, T Murray (0-1), R Smyth; B Trainor (0-3), C Taggart, C Savage; M Conlan (0-3), S Conlan; P Conlan (0-2 frees), F Turpin (0-2), E Sands (0-1); T McGratttan (0-5, 0-1 free), N Milligan, D Sands (0-3) Subs: C O’Neill for D Mallon (h/t), N Fitzsimmons for P Conlan (50), C Fay for N Milligan (51), C O’Prey for C Savage (62)
Yellow cards: B Trainor (18)
Ballycran: S Keith; J Clarke, S Ennis, G Hughes; B Nicholson, L Savage, C McAllister; M Hughes, P Savage (0-3); B Arthurs, C Woods (0-2), P Sheehan (0-5, 0-1 ’65, 0-4 frees); S Nicholson (0-1), S Martin (0-4), C Egan (0-1) Subs: N Breen for S Ennis (39), E Bell for S Nicholson (45), B Watson for J Clarke (51), J Coyle for C Egan (53), A Gleeson for P Sheehan (57)
Yellow card: J Coyle (63)
Referee: P Owens (Liatroim)
