Portaferry finally claim Ulster title

Portaferry 1-16
Cushendall 0-11

Portaferry claimed a first ever Ulster Club SHC title with a fully deserved and impressive win over an outfought Cushendall at Owenbeg.

The Down champions had lost eight provincial finals since 1971 but they took command of this one early on, despite playing against a stiff breeze in the opening half.

Paul Braniff was in form from the frees and helped the underdogs into a 0-7 to 0-2 lead after 16 minutes.

Cushendall’s best spell of the game came in the second quarter but, in spite of four unanswered points, they looked in trouble trailing by one at the interval.

Eoghan Sands hit two superb scores from line balls on the restart and when he found the net one-handed after 47 minutes, the Ardsmen had a 1-15 to 0-9 lead.

The last 10 minutes was wave after wave of Cushendall attack but the Portaferry defence repelled them each time to claim a famous victory.

PORTAFERRY: K Keating; C Taggart, C O'Neill, C O'Prey; M Conlan, J Convery, C Coulter (0-2); A Savage, C Mageean; K McGarry (0-1), P Braniff (0-6, 0-5 frees), A O'Prey (0-3); S Mageean (0-1), E Sands (1-3, 0-2 sideline), R Magee. Subs: S Murray for Magee (49 mins), F Rodgers for A O'Prey (59 mins), B Coleman for S Mageean (60 mins).
CUSHENDALL: E Gillan; R McCambridge, M Burke, A Graffin; P McNaughton, P Burke, S Delargy; N McManus (0-5, 0-4 frees), E Campbell (0-2); P McGill, C Carson, K McKeegan (0-1); A McNaughton, D McNaughton (0-1), E Laverty (0-1, free). Subs: S McNaughton for Laverty (h-t), C McNaughton (0-1) for McGill (36 mins).
Referee: E Hassan (Derry)