Cormac O'Doherty of Slaughtneil in action against Caolan Taggart, left, and Caolan Taggart of Portaferry during the AIB Ulster GAA Senior Club Hurling Championship final match between Portaferry of Down and Slaughtneil of Derry at BOX-IT Athletic Grounds in Armagh. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile.
AIB Ulster Club SHC Final
Slaughtneil 2-19 Portaferry 1-19
By Francis Mooney at the Athletic Grounds
Slaughtneil powered to victory with a late surge at the Athletic Grounds to claim a fifth Ulster Club SHC title.
Two Se McGuigan goals turned a drama-packed decider on its heads, as Portaferry saw an eight points lead dismantled by the fired-up Derry men.
The Down champions couldn’t live with the intensity their opponents injected into the final stages, their dream of a second provincial title ruthlessly shattered.
Slaughtneil, having lost the last two finals, quickly processed the prospect of a third straight defeat and stamped their authority on the occasion with a 2-8 blitz going down the straight
Portaferry’s high energy start saw they race into an early four points lead, with Matthew Conlan, Eoghan Sands, Tom McGrattan and Niall Fitzsimmons all sending over points.
The burning pace of Fitzsimmons and Daithi Sands had the Emmets’ defence in trouble, but they dealt with a difficult spell to find their feet and respond with scores from Shane McGuigan and Jack Cassidy.
They also needed a terrific stop from goalkeeper Oisin O’Doherty to keep out a Niall Milligan effort, after he was sent clear by Fitzsimmons.
McGrattan converted the resultant ’45 and as the relentless press continued, Finn Turpin and Conlan, with a mammoth effort, stretched the lead out to six.
Finn McEldowney, Paul McNeill and Conor Coyle stepped in with challenges that prevented further damage to the Derry cause, and they broke to keep in touch through Ruairi O Mianain and Cormac O’Doherty.
But the men from Portaferry were hungry and mean, pushing the lead out to eight points by the 25-minute mark.
Slaughtneil did have a flourish towards the end of the half, and when corner back McEldowney fired in a snapshot, full back Tom Murray was perfectly positioned to save off the line.
At the break, Portaferry led by 0-13 to 0-6, and there was still no indication that they may allow their grip on the contest to loosen, even when Slaughtneil trimmed back a handful of scores, through O’Doherty’s accurate striking from placed balls, and Se McGuigan.
McGrattan was equally potent from frees, adding to his mounting tally for a six points cushion going into the final quarter.
But Slaughtneil flicked a switch, stepping up the intensity, with wing backs Shane McGuigan and Ruairi O’Mianain playing pivotal roles.
And two goals in the space of 90 seconds changed the game completely, both netted clinically by Se McGuigan from assists by cousin Shane and O’Doherty.
The Down champions were reeling, as their opponents flashed over scores to go level through O’Doherty, with two massive frees, before Shane McGuigan gave them the lead for the first time on 53 minutes.
But another twist saw substitute Cathal Coleman fire in a Portaferry goal after a McGrattan free was deflected into his path by a defender.
Slaughtneil were in the zone, however, their momentum unbroken by the setback, and they rattled over the final five points of the game, including two magnificent long range efforts from O Mianain, with Jack Cassidy, Brendan Rogers and O’Doherty also on target.
Scorers for Slaughtneil: Se McGuigan 2-1, C O’Doherty 0-7 (6f, 1 ’45), Shane McGuigan, R O Mianain, J Cassidy 0-3 each, B Rogers 0-2.
Portaferry scorers: C Coleman 1-0, T McGrattan 0-9 (6f, 2 ’45), M Conlan 0-3, N Fitzsimmons, F Turpin, D Sands 0-2 each, E Sands 0-1.
Slaughtneil: O O’Doherty; F McEldowney, P McNeill, C McAllister; R O Mianain; C Coyle, Shane McGuigan; J Cassidy, M McGrath; M McGuigan, Se McGuigan, C O’Doherty; E Cassidy, B Rogers, S Cassidy. Subs: G Bradley for S Cassidy (46).
Portaferry: P Smyth; D Mallon, T Murray, R Smyth; B Trainor, C Taggart, C Milligan; M Conlan, S Conlan; N Fitzsimmons, F Turpin, E Sands; D Sands, T McGrattan, N Milligan. Subs: C Savage for C Milligan (49), C Coleman for N Milligan (49), C Fay for Fitzsimmons (52), P Doran for Trainor (58)
Referee: C Cunning (Antrim).
