PORTAFERRY boss Gerard McGrattan has urged his players to make an impact on the Ulster series and not be content with winning a county championship.
In his first year as senior manager, McGrattan helped guide Portaferry to back-to-back Down titles for the first time in 20 years after edging local rivals Ballycran in last Sunday’s epic decider in Newry.
The newly crowned Down champions enter the provincial stage on Sunday November 19 where they’ll face Antrim champions Cushendall in a semi-final.
The winners will face Slaughtneil in the December 3 decider.
“Everybody’s ultimate challenge would have been Dunloy who were in an All-Ireland final last season, but they obviously went out,” said McGrattan.
“Cushendall have been there or thereabouts over the last few years. They have a strong squad and will be a massive challenge.
“In the Antrim leagues we know the teams inside out, we know the talent and quality they have, and they’ll know us as well.
“From our end, we have to reset our sights. We’re confident that we’re going to compete and push on in Ulster because that’s what we need to do as a club.
“Yes, winning county championships are great, and you enjoy them, especially doing back-to-back and not having done that in 20 years. But we have to close the gap in Ulster.
“We can’t be ticking the boxes, winning the county championships and not competing at the top table.”
Portaferry claimed their one and only Ulster title in 2014 by beating Cushendall in Owenbeg.
From that victorious squad of nine years ago, Caolan Taggart, Conor O’Neill, Conor and Aidan O’Prey, Matthew Conlan and Eoghan Sands are still playing for their club.
Cushendall have a few more survivors that were on the receiving end of that upset: Eoin Gillan, Ryan McCambridge, Martin Burke, Paddy Burke, Neil McManus, Aidan McNaughton, Conor Carson, Paddy McGill and Eoghan Campbell.
“I’ve coached this group right through juvenile, so I know them and what I’ve got from them this year was a reaction. I’m only facilitating what they want to achieve, that’s all mentors do.”
Barry Trainor, who was voted man-of-the-match in Portaferry’s final win over Ballycran last weekend, says they won’ fear the Antrim champions when they meet next month.
“We play Cushendall in the Antrim league all the time – we don’t fear them,” said the free-scoring wing-back.
“If we get ourselves right… I watched the Antrim final and Cushendall are a very good side. We played them home and away – I think we drew with them up there and we beat them at home. I know they were missing a few players but I wouldn’t fear them.”
“We’ll just work hard. We’ve been training for Ulster since we were minors and we trust in our ability.”
Since assuming the reins this year, McGrattan put huge emphasis on being the fittest team in the Down county championship – and so it proved as they out-scored Ballycran 0-6 0-1 going down the home straight in Sunday’s final to win by four.
“I knew we’d be stronger and fitter than Ballycran because that was our aim at the start of the Down championship,” Trainor said.
