Body Line Ulster Minor Championship Semi Final Sunday 23rd November 2008 at Ballinascreen:

Portaferry 0-09 v Middletown 0-08

Down Minor Champions Portaferry progressed to the Ulster Minor Final after a very close and hard fought one point victory over Armagh Champions Middletown. Played in monsoon like conditions with driving rain and a strong wind both sets of players deserve credit in adapting to the underfoot conditions. Portaferry started out of the blocks in lighting fashion racing into a 2 point lead with 2 tremendous long range points from midfielder Shane Conlan from the dead ball. Middletwon facing the breeze in the first period started to settle and levelled matters up with Ciaran Mc Kiernan scoring 2 superb frees. Mc Kiernan tagged on another point as half time approached but Brendan Coleman at full forward levelled matters up with a brilliant score form play to leave the two sides tied at 3 points a piece at the interval.
Middletown with the advantage of a strong breeze in the second half started the brightest as they raced into a two point lead with again Mc Kernan deadly accurate from the set piece. Portaferry rallied with Neil White and Fergal Magee in the half back line getting on top and Michael Doran showing real quality pace from midfield. Doran provided the inspiration with a 40 yard run and a great point to provide the backbone of a Portaferry revival. Conlan tagged on 2 further points both from play to stretch the Down Champions lead to 8 points to 7 with full time approaching. Michael Doran had the final say again with an inspirational point and despite a late surge form Middletown Portaferry advanced to next Sunday's final with home side Ballinascreen.
Mc Kiernan v Conlan was a real ding dong battle with Conlan just edging out in front with a superb tally of 6 points, 2 of which came from play. Goal keeper Paddy Mc Nally never put a foot wrong whilst Neil White and Matthew Conlan adapted well to the difficult conditions. Portaferry full forward Brendan Coleman was threat all day but man of the match goes to midfielder Michael Doran who showed quality in securing possession and scoring 2 points at crucial times in the game. Middletown last year's finalists showed grit and no less skill and in Ciaran Mc Kiernan they have a player of true inter county class. Portaferry inaugural winners of the competition in 1995 hope to repeat that feat in one week's time but they face a stern test in Ballinascreen who defeated Loughguile in the other semi final

Man of the Match: Michael Doran

The Portaferry team was as following:

1 Paddy Mc Nally, 2 Conor Young, 3 Fergal Rodgers, 4 Eoin Dumigan, 5 Fergal Magee, 6 John Merron, 7 Neil White, 8 Shane Conaln, 9 Michael Doran, 10 Matthew Conlan, 11 Conor Mageean, 12 Aaron O Prey, 13 Ryan Miskelly, 14 Brendan Coleman, 15 Jason Gilmore

Sub:16 Peter Mason for 15 Jason Gilmore

Referree: Eamon Hasson, Co Derry