By Shaun Casey PORTAFERRY have been so close and yet so far in recent years. Gerard McGrattan’s side are the team to beat in Down but it’s on the provincial path where they have failed to leave their mark in the last few years, although they are aiming to change that according to captain Matthew […]
By Michael McMullan ULSTER champions Sleacht Néill will be without two key defenders when they put their title on the line against Portaferry later this month. Sean Cassidy has suffered a torn cruciate ligament with Conor Coyle also out of contention with a hamstring injury. Both played in the last year’s clash of the teams […]
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 […]
By Daragh Ó Conchúir THURSDAY is her first day back at work after taking a week and a half off to get married but Niamh Mallon is agreeable to a quick chat from a Galway coffee shop beforehand to discuss a range of endeavours, personal and professional. There aren’t too many vacancies in the Mallon […]
By Shaun Casey WHEN the half-time whistle sounded in last year’s Ulster Club SHC final, Portaferry looked well on their way. The Down champions flew out of the traps and rattled the Sleacht Néill cages in the opening half. At the interval, Portaferry were seven points clear and had one hand on the Four Seasons […]
1 Down heading up SINCE Conor Laverty took the reins in the Mourne County, Down have been slowly but surely improving. While they missed out on promotion in 2023, and lost the Tailteann Cup final to Meath, they ticked off both those objectives in a superb 2024 season. They topped the Division Three table but […]
By Michael McMullan WHILE Sleacht Néill manager Paul McCormack felt his side needed a goal to pull themselves back into Sunday’s Ulster final, he believed they had the tools to do so. Looking on as Sé McGuigan hit the first goal before Shéa Cassidy added the second – to leave them just two points adrift – […]
BY Michael McMullan CORMAC O’Doherty has been around enough corners to know that Sleacht Néill must have their eyes peeled with Portaferry coming down the tracks this week. While they’ve dominated the Derry scene for 12 seasons, they’ve just over a 50 per cent hit rate from their Ulster final appearances. Ballycran gave them a lesson […]
By Niall Gartland CAOLAN Taggart was only a teenager when he pocketed an Ulster Championship medal back in 2014, but it’s taken Portaferry a full 10 years to get back to provincial final day. You could point out with some justification that they have received a bye into the final, but their performance against eventual champions […]
Sleacht Néill and Portaferry meet in Sunday’s Ulster hurling final. They are two of the teams still in the All-Ireland race. Michael McMullan takes a look at the contenders. Ballygunner (Waterford) THE only team left in the pack who have won the All-Ireland. Who will ever forget Harry Ruddle? His last-gasp winning goal downed Ballyhale in […]
