If you were lucky enough to have been at the Ballygalget v Bredagh game earlier today, it wouldn’t have slipped your notice how the breeze was throttling from the west today. Lying lower in the upper Ards, McKenna Park wasn’t going to be spared any advantages for its lower geographical position. The flags were draped stiff with the breeze and it would be at least the second half before there was a noticeable drop in wind speed. With the wind and sun sourced from the west late this afternoon, spectators on the east fence braved the conditions, though it has to be said, there was some warmth in the autumnal setting.
Colum Cunning was today’s referee and just like clockwork, the sliotar was rolled in at 4pm to start the fourth round of the Morgan Fuels Down GAA SHC game between Ballycran and Portaferry. Portaferry broke the ice first and on a day when you’d have settled for low scoring and maybe more goals, it was a credit to the marksmen from both teams to find the uprights under the challenging conditions.
Both sides appeared evenly matched with a margin of difference coming Ballycran’s way as they showed determination to gain the mid field ground. Liam Savage and brother Phelim patrolled the area with energy as the full and half back lines closed ranks on any attempt at goal.
The half time score of Ballycran 0-12 to Portaferry’s 0-8 suggested that there might be more to come in the second half, perhaps Ballycran would find an advantage in running down towards the Rubane end. As the points clicked up on the scoreboard from each side, it would be a loose ball won by Stuart Martin from just beyond the mid field to start a solo run down the middle of the pitch. As the forwards ran off, they parted a way for Martin to slot the sliotar past Portaferry’s keeper Paddy McNally for the games only goal.
At the final whistle, Ballycran stood 1-18 (21) to Portaferry’s 0-14 (14). Hard luck to Portaferry, well done to Ballycran. The next match will be away to Bredagh at Ballygalget with a 3pm throw-in on Sunday the 10th October.
Scorers P Savage 0-3, C Woods 0-6, C Egan 0-1, N Breen 0-3, L Savage 0-3, S Martin 1-02.
Down GAA TV were streaming the event and it’s possible to catch up on the game if you have an account and pay the small fee, so we have taken the liberty to just summarise the match. Here are a few photos to record the game.
Captains Conor O’Prey (Portaferry) and Liam Savage (Ballycran) with referee Colum Cunning (Bc v Pf – 1)
(Bc v Pf – 2)
(Bc v Pf – 3)
(Bc v Pf – 4)
(Bc v Pf – 5)
(Bc v Pf – 6)
(Bc v Pf – 7)
(Bc v Pf – 8)
(Bc v Pf – 9)
Paddy McNally has this one in hand (Bc v Pf – 10)
(Bc v Pf – 11)
(Bc v Pf – 12)
(Bc v Pf – 13)
(Bc v Pf – 14)
(Bc v Pf – 15)
(Bc v Pf – 16)
(Bc v Pf – 17)
(Bc v Pf – 18)
A loose ball gets the Martin eagle eye (Bc v Pf – 19)
Stuart Martin making his run at the Portaferry goalmouth (Bc v Pf – 20)
Young supporters cheer at Martin’s goal (Bc v Pf – 21)
(Bc v Pf – 22)
(Bc v Pf – 23)
