Ballycran edge thriller to take the Down SHC crown off Portaferry

Monday 1st November 2021

Kenny Archer at Pairc Esler

Irish News: https://www.irishnews.com/sport/hurlingandcamogie/2021/11/01/news/ballycran-edge-thriller-to-take-the-down-shc-crown-off-portaferry-2494609/

2021 Down SHC Final: Ballycran 2-25 Portaferry 3-20 (aet)

YOU can take the Down hurling final out of a waterlogged Ards peninsula but that still doesn't dampen the drama. Another amazing encounter burst into colourful life before the trophy changed hands yet again.

The black and amber of Ballycran and the blue and gold of Portaferry were added to by red and yellow cards, with three dismissals in all, two for the former in the second half of normal time, one for the Ports in the first period of extra time.

Ballycran were ahead for nearly all the match, apart from most of that first period of extra time, but Portaferry's ability to grab goals almost saw them hold on to the Jeremiah McVeagh Cup. They looked favourites when they levelled matters against 13 men, but once Ballycran had the numerical advantage in the second period of extra time they regained the Jeremiah McVeagh Cup thanks to their experienced men and the youthful scoring power of Phelim Savage, extending their lead at the top of the roll of honour with this their 27th triumph.

Joint-manager Jamie Fowler was a relieved man afterwards, commenting: "Listen, it wasn't good for the heart there but it was typical of the last three or four years - Portaferry and Ballycran can't seem to be separated. For 80 minutes there was nothing between the teams but thankfully we came out on the right end of it."

In truth, Ballycran were the better team for much of the initial hour. Although holders Portaferry began brightly and opened the scoring through Conor Mageean, they were profligate with their shooting, with eight wides before the break. When 'man of the match' Conor Woods converted an eighth minute penalty for a foul on the lively Chris Egan, that gave Ballycran a lead they would not lose until the very last gasp of normal time.

Indeed Cran opened up a seven-point lead, 1-6 to 0-2, shortly after the first water break, helped by the unerring free-taking of young Savage - son of former county star Gary - and points from corner-forward James Clarke. The idea that this might be a rare one-sided Down decider was swiftly dismissed, though, as Portaferry's number 13 Tom McGrattan netted after good work by Niall Fitzsimons.

Then, after Egan had eased Ballycran further clear again, Portaferry found the net again, brilliantly fired in by full-forward Daithi Sands.

However, the long-distance striking of Woods then pulled Ballycran away - first he pointed from his own half, then his huge clearance was nicked off a defender by Clarke, whose low shot eluded the Portaferry 'keeper for a 2-10 to 2-5 half-time lead.

That five-point gap was still there after a tit for tat early part of the second half, but Portaferry semed to be reeling Ballycran in with a third booming point from wing-back Barry Trainor and two frees by McGrattan - only for young Savage to reply in kind.

A crucial moment came just before the second water break, Cran captain Michael Ennis sent off for a second yellow card. When his colleague Brett Nicholson received a straight red for an off-the-ball incident in the 56th minute, the warning lights were flashing for the black and ambers.

Portaferry appeared to be exercising too much caution, often with their two extra men still back in their own half, but their patience paid off eventually.

Their substitutions also reaped rewards, with Eoghan Sands and Ronan Blair exerting influence in attack and getting points on the scoreboard.

They still trailed by two points going into four minutes of added time, but that duo of Sands and Blair rescued them, the former with a free, then the latter nervelessly converting a '65' after a scramble for what would have been a winning goal.

Ballycran might have been gutted, but Fowler insisted otherwise: "I was just thinking about getting to the final whistle, getting extra time, with two men down - it's a credit to the team we have. All year we've had critics, people asking questions of us, both those boys stood up and I'm proud of them, proud to be associated with them. "I felt we could get over the line in extra time, back 15 against 15 - and we saw it through."

That they did, but not without quite a sweat.

Portaferry went ahead for the first time since the final's opening score through a free from Blair, but the contrasting contributions of two other substitutes played a huge part in the winning and losing of this match.

Ballycran's Scott Nicholson shot two more points, either side of Portaferry's Callum Smyth getting himself sent off for jabbing a hurl into an opponent's midriff.

With Phelim Savage punishing all such indiscretions, Ballycran moved closer to victory - but yet another goal, improbably coming from Portaferry full-back Caolan Taggart, left just a point in it - until Savage had the final say with his ninth successful free from as many attempts.

Ulster champions Slaughtneil or Antrim kingpins Dunloy await in the provincial final, but Ballycran had done the trick and were entitled to treat themselves last night, as Fowler concluded: "We'll enjoy the next week and then worry about Ulster after that."

Ballycran: S Keith; B Watson, S Ennis, M Hughes; B Nicholson, C Woods (1-3, 1-0 penalty, 0-2 frees, M Ennis (capt.); G Hughes, P Savage (0-9 frees); L Savage, S Martin (0-2), N Breen (0-3); J Clarke (1-3), B Arthurs, C Egan (0-2). Substitutes: S Nicholson (0-3) for M Hughes (52); C McAllister for Arthurs (55); P Hughes for Clarke (59); F Caldwell for Breen (62); M Hughes for Egan (72).

Red cards: M Ennis (47, second yellow); Brett Nicholson (56).

Portaferry: P McNally; D Mallon, C Taggart (1-0), T Murray; B Trainor (0-3), C O'Prey, C O'Neill; M Conlan (0-1), S Conlan; C Mageean (0-1), N Milligan (0-2), P Doran (0-2, 0-1 free); T McGrattan (1-2, 0-2 frees), D Sands (1-2), N Fitzsimons (0-1).

Substitutes: C Savage for Mallon (inj., 26); E Sands (0-2, 0-1 free) for Mageean (35); R Blair (0-4, 0-1 65, 0-3 frees) for Doran (49); C Smyth for S Conlan (49); R Smyth for Murray (64); R Convery for O'Prey (78).

Red card: Callum Smyth (69).

Referee: Peter Owens (Liatroim).