Portaferry 2-28 Ballygalget 2-17

Portaferry claimed their fifth Down Senior Hurling Championship title in a row at Páirc Esler on Sunday beating Ballygalet who were bridesmaids for the third year on the trot.

The Ports had an easy run up to the final including beating Sunday's opponents by 15 points in the third round of the championship, but Ballygalget had done their homework and while there were 11 points in it at the final whistle, the contest was close until the last quarter.

Ballygalget led by a point 2-12 to 1-13 at the break but they had a man sent off in the second half and Portaferry scored a third goal which sent them on their way.

The sides went at it full throttle from throw-in with the winners scoring the opening goal via Ciaran Mulligan with just two minutes on the clock and the teams played score for score after that with the scoreline reading 0-05 to 1-03 in the fifth minute.

Ballygalget were looking for a goal of their own and they came close with a clever move that saw Eoin Pucci play a close-range free short to Shea Pucci but while the play was clearly practised, Shea slipped as he went for goal and the chance was lost.

Two minutes later the same player did find a maximum however, with a nice team move between Tim Prenter, Cathal Coulter and Pucci who fired home. That put Ballygalget into a 1-05 to 1-04 lead but the sides were level seconds later when Daithi Sands pointed and so it continued with the match square again 1-10 each with 22 minutes played.

Portaferry pulled away again with the next two points but Cathal Coulter raised a second green flag for Ballygalget and there was only a point between the teams at the break with McGrattan and Eoin Pucci trading scores to make it 2-11 to 1-13.

Eoin Pucci opened the scoring for Ballygalget after the restart but a brace from Daithi Sands either side of a McGrattan free preceded Jordan Doran being sent off leaving Ballygalget down to 14 men. Portaferry stretched their lead when Eoghan Sands stuck the rebound from a Mulligan goal miss into the net and it was plain sailing from that point on.

With a 2-16 to 2-12 lead and a numerical advantage there was no stopping Connor O' Prey's men and they continued take their points as Ballygalget faded winning by 11 when the final whistle blew.

Portaferry: P Smyth; D Mallon, B Trainor, C Taggart; C Smyth, M Conlon, D Mallon; T Murray, C Milligan 1-01; F Turpin 0-04, E Sands 1-02, , T McGrattan 0-13 (09f, 01'65); C Coleman 0-01 , N Milligan, D Sands 0-04

Subs: R Smyth for Mallon (27), S Conlon for Smyth (h-t), N Fitsimmons 0-02, for Milligan (40), R Blair 0-01 for E Sands (46), N Rogers for Coleman (60)

Ballygalget: E Clarke; M Toner, B Teggart,C Watson; Matt Fisher 0-1 (1f),, J McManus, Caolan Coulter; T Prenter 0-03, , J Doran; Cathal Coulter 1-06 (04f), M Og Dorrian 0-01, Cormac Coulter; E Pucci 0-05 (04f), S Pucci 1-00, O McDermott 0-01

Subs: O Coulter for Cormac Coulter (h-t), D Pucci for E Pucci 40

Referee: C Masterson