Down Senior Hurling Championship Final
Ballycran: 1- 13 Ballygalget 0-9

Ballycran won a surprising, but well-merited, victory over Ballygalget in the Down Senior Hurling Championship Final. With a clearly worked out game-plan, they played much better hurling and showed greater commitment throughout.

Ballygalget, on the other hand, appeared to leave their game-plan in the dressing room and they were always behind in what was a tense and exciting match. They managed only 3 points from play in the entire match and they had no answer to Ballycran’s man-for man marking.

At half-time Ballycran were ahead by nine points to four. Paul Keith and Brendan Ennis both picked off two fine points each. Gordon, Coyle and McGourty added one each and Colm McManus scored two from frees. Ballygalget managed only one point from play through Gareth Johnston, who might have been more effective had he been played in the centre of the attack rather than on the wing.

In the second half Ballycran scored the crucial first point through a free from McManus. Although Ballygalget then scored three points in succession – a McGrattan free and two 65’s from Eoin Clarke – Simon Wilson’s presence as substitute gave Ballycran the impetus to push for victory.

It was Wilson who scored the only goal of the game in the 28th minute from a 50 metre free which went straight to the net. It was game over for Ballygalget.

Overall it was a good, fast game. Referee Ned Morgan found it difficult to keep up with the play, but both teams maintained their own discipline in what was a hard but sporting contest.

Ballycran: D Ennis, G Hughes, G Savage, T Masterson, M Ennis, P Hughes, A Bell, G Gordon, B McGourty, C Woods, C McManus, S Ennis, B Ennis, P Keith, J Coyle.

Ballygalget: K Taggart, L Clarke, K Dynes, S Roddy, G Clarke, G Dynes, S Johnston, P Monan, D Flynn, S Clarke, G Flynn, E Clarke, J McGrattan, G Johnston, P Coulter.

Man of the Match: Paddy Hughes (Ballycran).