Connel Trainor
Port an Pheire
26th August 2008
Down Intermediate Championship
Semi Final: Portaferry 4-16
v Newry Shamrocks 1-15 at Fontenoy
Park, Liatroim
Portaferry inflicted a 10 point
defeat on Newry Shamrocks to
set up a championship final
decider with Liatroim in a hugely
entertaining and absorbing encounter.
The Shamrocks came quickest
out of the blocks racing into
a 2 point lead with Eoin Mc
Guiness providing a great outlet
at full forward. The Ports however
replied with some great long
range points from Robert Magee
and Paul Braniff. Two quick
Portaferry goals in succession
put the Shamrocks on the back
foot one each from Braniff and
Joe Kelly to extend the Ports
margin by 8 points. Newry however
with Ciaran Courtney at midfield
in a real ding dong battle with
Portaferry Minor Aaron O Prey
reduced the arrears to 4 points
with half time approaching.
The accuracy from the dead ball
of Ronan Sheehan left the half
time score 2-08 to 10 points
in the Ards men's favour.
The second half continued with
both teams racking up the score
board with Robert Magee who
finished with a personal tally
of 1-9 adding points from the
placed ball and from play. Newry
struck back with a great first
time effort from Mc Guniness
who blasted the sloithar to
the net. However a Braniff goal
after a great solo and points
from Nigel Kelly and Richard
Murray ensured that Portaferry
would advance to the final.
The game as a spectacle was
a great physical encounter with
scores a plenty. Best for Newry
included Eoin Mc Guniess and
County star Ciaran Courtney
whilst Ronan Sheehan never missed
any frees and Artie Mc Guniness
worked his socks off. For Portaferry
it was their ability to score
at will with Robert Magee and
Braniff most prominent whilst
Nigel Kelly and Richard Murray
were superb in attack. TJ Fitzsimons
rolled back the years in the
full back line to keep Newry
at bay to set up a mouth watering
encounter with the Fontenoys.
Man of the Match; Robert Magee:
Portaferry
Referee: Ned Morgan
The Portaferry team was as
following:
1 Paddy Mc Nally., 2 Fergal
Rodgers, 3 Ryan Conlan, 4 TJ
Fitzsimons, 5 Connel Trainor,
6 Eamon Adair, 7 Richard Kiernan,
8 Conor Mc Carthy, 9 Aaron O
Prey, 10 Paul Braniff, 11 Richard
Murray, 12 Robert Magee, 13
Nigel Kelly, 14 Joe Kelly, 15
Noel Sands
Subs: 16 Martin Mallon for
14 Joe Kelly. 17 Brendan Coleman
for 15 Noel Sands
