Portaferry out to extend Down SHC winning streak

LAST weekend Newry saw history made as Kilcoo became the first Down team to win seven in a row in football and Páirc Esler could be home to another winning streak on Sunday should Portaferry defeat Ballygalget in the hurling final.

Gerard McGrattan’s side are aiming to win a fourth title in a row, something last achieved back in the middle of the 1980s as a Ballycran side – with a certain dual star Greg Blaney involved in a number of those successes – dominating for four seasons. That would immediately be followed by five final losses, demonstrating how things can turn in what has been a competitive championship for so long.

Between Ballygalget’s double in 2004 and 2005 and the same club’s successes in 2016 and 2017, no club had managed to go back-to-back. Indeed, that 2017 success was the last time Ballygalget got their hands on the Jeremiah McVeagh Cup.

Still, this was the most likely final pairing.

Ballycran’s third-place finish in the group stage wasn’t a massive surprise and while the non-Ards sides continue to dominate at underage level, they’re still a bit shy of making their mark at the senior grade.

That was evident in the semi-final as Portaferry beat Bredagh 1-31 to 1-10 in the semi-final – Finn Turpin with the goal for the winners.

Turpin is part of a dangerous forward line containing the likes of Eoghan Sands and Daithí Sands as well as the likes of Noah Rogers and Niall Milligan who have been raising green flags in the championship.

Ballygalget had it tougher in their semi-final but the 3-18 to 2-13 win over Ballycran was still ultimately comfortable.

Captained by John McManus, they’ll need big displays from the Puccis – Shea and Eoin – while midfield pairing Tim Prenter and Cormac Coulter provide a formidable pairing.

Portaferry are undoubtedly favourites this weekend, but as the Down Championship has shown in the past, it doesn’t take much for the ship to be turned.