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Portaferry play Keady
- 17/10/2002
(Taken from Hoganstand.com)
The Down senior hurling champions Portaferry
take on the Armagh title-holders Keady in the Ulster Club
SHC semi-final this Sunday at the Casement Park, Belfast
venue. Portaferry after their third successive Down SHC
final win at Downpatrick three weeks ago go into Sunday's
clash as strong favourites to reach the provincial final.
However this Keady side deserve a lot
of respect and have earned it this season to date. They
won through to this stage of the Ulster club competition
with wins over Burt (Donegal) and Lisbellaw (Fermanagh).
Last week-end they pulled off a shock win over the Tyrone
champions, Carrickmore to lift the Shield title which is
the reward for clubs in the weaker counties of Ulster hurling.
Portaferry are favourites on Sunday, but
they would do well to remember that last season a talen-ted
Dunloy side from Antrim had to pull out all the stops to
overcome the Shield winners in their semi-final clash. Portaferry
themselves had to work hard against a determined Ballygalget
side in what was a closely fought Down decider, winning
this game in the end by a one point margin. On that occasion
they had to thank the contribution of their teenage attacker
Paul Braniff who contributed ten points from frees and play
in their 0-14 to 3-4 success.
However, they are far from a one-man band,
and over the field they have plenty of talented and experienced
campaigners. If they play to form, and are not complacent
they should have too much strength in depth for the Keady
side on this occasion. It has all the makings of a very
interesting and competitive tie, with the prize of a provincial
final place at stake for the winners.
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