Morgan Milk SHC Goes To The Wire

Morgan Milk SHC Final Ballycran  1-11  Portaferry 0-13 CAN a match get much closer? Ballycran mostly led through the whole match except for a spell when Portaferry levelled the score. But just when it looked as though the Ports would pluck victory from the jaws of defeat, Ballycran produced a hammer bow finishing off any doubt as to who the champions were going to be. Most pundits fancied Portaferry to win this match but Ballycran did not come to Pairc Tomas Ruisel in Downpatrick to go home empty handed. And given the nature of the competitive game of hurling in Ards this game was destined to be a cracker. It lived up to its name, but it started off in atrocious weather conditions with heavy rain and strong wind. It was initially a dour struggle for both teams in these conditions with Ballycran having the wind in their back as an early advantage.

“> Paidraig Flynn pointed early for Ballycran followed by another from Simon Wilson. Certainly Ballycran looked the  hungrier of the two sides from the onset. The Portaferry front line of Conor Mageean, Stephen Murray and Aaron O’Prey faced a stiff task against the Ballycran defenders determined  not to allow Portaferry a run of the pitch. But Portaferry did attack and on one occasion a good play from O’Prey, to Murray to Kevin McGarry saw the sloithar just miss the post for a goal by inches. Mageean clawed back a point levelling the score giving his side some encouragement. Portaferry forward Paul Brannif was unlucky also not to have scored as his shot in front of goal was denied. But Ballycran were having none of this and quickly scored another point to take the lead. Ballycran looked the more dominant side making some excellent attacking moves, but the game descended into a squabble for a short spell as players’ frustrations came to the fore. Ballycran were well ahead then at 0-8 to 0-3, a widening gulf. Portaferry were not lying down and in one attack Branniff again just missed a point. Conor O’Prey too had an excellent run in through the Ballycran defenders only to be foiled by keeper Stephen Keith. [caption id="attachment_30024" align="alignleft" width="400" caption="The Ballycran team celebrate after winning the Morgan Milk SHC Final."][/caption]Ballycran forwards were making the most headway getting plenty of support from  their midfield. Contrasting with this Portaferry had a long goalless spell. In one gutsy attack O’Prey cleared the defenders to be denied by a reflex save from keeper Keith. Then in an excellent move, Portaferry’s O’Prey broke through and knocked one over the bar closing the deficit to 0-9 t0 0-6. At this point the game really came alive with about 10 minutes left in the second half. Portaferry made a quick break and earned a free but the shot taken by John Conway was wide. Then McGarry pointed actually putting Portaferry in the lead and looking good to steal the match. BUT…as both teams battled for the supremacy as none wanted a replay, a goalmouth scramble in front of the Portfaerry goal gave Ballycran’s Scott Nicholson the golden opportunity to nail the match. He hit a low hard shot past keeper Keith to put his side a point ahead as the clock was ticking. Ballycran fans erupted in celebrations around PTR as Portaferry felt the noose tightening. When the whistle finally blew there was no doubt that this was a worthy final for both teams as tears and tribulations would no doubt return to the Ards Peninsula. It will be a match spoken about for a long time to come. It was a game of two halves, and thankfully the weather eased in the second half allowing play to become more fluid.]]>