Summer challenge game points to cracking Ulster semi-final

By Michael McMullan

PORTAFERRY return to the Ulster arena for the fifth year in succession in Sunday’s Ulster semi-final showdown with Antrim champions Dunloy.

Their last Ulster title came in 2014 with victory over Cushendall but they’ve been the pillar of consistency. It’s their sixth Down title in seven seasons; their only blot was an extra-time defeat to Ballycran in 2020.

Connor O’Prey took over from Gerard McGrattan as manager this season, having played under him in 2023. He called time on his career after the Ulster exit to Cushendall before managing Down U20s.

“It was definitely something that was in my mind as I was coming towards the end of the playing career,” he said of his step into management.

“The team is starting to change since Gerard came in the last couple of years. Tom McGrattan, Finn Turpin and Pearse Smyth have all stepped up out of U20 to become the front leaders of the team very much.

“You’ve obviously the experience of Matthew Conlon, Caolan Taggart, the two Sands (Daithi and Eoghan) and Barry Trainor, so there’s a very good mix.”

O’Prey praised his predecessor for having Portaferry tuned for Ulster. He references 2023 when Cushendall came from three down to force extra time on a day Neil McManus hit 1-14.

“The next year we were seven or eight points up going into the final stretch of the game against Sleacht Néill,” he added.

“A couple of goals changed it and then even last year, there was only five points between the teams. So definitely knocking on the door.

“There are signs of progression in comparison to back in ‘22 when Sleacht Néill absolutely put us out the gates of Corrigan. So, there’s definitely been a massive improvement since then.”

Familiarity

Looking ahead to Sunday, O’Prey says their involvement in the Antrim leagues offers a degree of familiarity with teams like Dunloy but with so many players on both sides on county duty it hard to read too much

Portaferry had nine players on county duty and used the league to find new players. If someone played well, they kept their jersey and it was up to them to stake a claim when O’Prey had a full deck to pick from.

“I would say the two teams (Portaferry and Dunloy) that went out against each other in the Antrim League, there’s massive changes to the two teams,” he said.

“We actually had a challenge game with them at the end of July up in Dunloy and it was more reflective of what probably the two teams will be this week.

“It was an excellent game. There’s only a puck of the ball between us but we know how good Dunloy are and how slick they move the ball,” he added.

“I think Portaferry are in a similar position in that they’re as good as there is in Ulster. It’s just about taking the confidence from what we’ve done over the course of the last six or seven months and making that materialise on the pitch on Sunday.”