Hurling: Minor Match-Ups

Monday 16th May 2016

With the exam period underway, the Club minor hurling season in Down takes a break until the end of June and so it’s an opportune time to review how the season has gone to date.

With two games left to play, Portaferry sit proudly at the top of the table. In their most recent game, the Ardsmen maintained their unbeaten run overcoming Liatroim at Fontenoy Park. Driven forward by Daithi Sands and Eoin Savage, the visitors produced a battling performance to take both points. Liatroim who have had mixed fortunes in their games to date, have a resolute defence led by Jarlath Mc Aleenan while Liam Midleton is a dominant force at midfield. Elsewhere, Ruairi and Conor Mc Crickard add class to the Liatroim side. However on the night of Portaferry’s visit, it was the goal-scoring prowess of the Ards strike-force that made the difference as they returned home across the Lough with a 5-13 to 2-10 victory.

Ballycran Minor Team

Hot on Portaferry’s heels in the league are their neighbours Ballycran who made sure of second spot with two wins in the week immediately prior to the exam break. A convincing win over Ballygalget followed a comprehensive victory over an under strength Bredagh team. The Bredagh match had seen the Belfast side race into an early lead with a couple of excellent points from Conor Sullivan. However with the wind behind them, the home Ards team rallied. Their defence started to get on top with Caolan Arthurs and Cathal Ritchie in fine form while in attack, full forward and Captain Huw Flynn, began to cause havoc. Assisted by Phelim Savage and Phillip Miskimmon, he helped turn round the game and at half time, Ballycran were3-10 to 0-3 in front. Despite having second half wind advantage, Bredagh could not recover and the exploits of ‘Cran keeper, Martin Caldwell kept the Belfast men at bay. While the final score was 7-11 to 0-8 in Ballycran’s favour, the score line did not reflect the competitive nature of the game with many Bredagh players producing excellent performances - Rian Woods and Michael Napier stood out in a hardworking Bredagh defence while at midfield, Joe Hanrahan dominated. Up front, Declan Mc Cartney, Conor Sullivan and Lughan O'Hare always kept the Ballycran defence busy. 

Bredagh Minor Team

The result kept Ballycran in second position in front of the chasing pack of Newry Shamrocks, Carryduff, Ballygalget and Liatroim, all on four points. Just prior to the break, Newry moved up to third position on score difference following a close- fought win away to Ballygalget.  Travelling to the Ards is never an easy fixture but the Shamrocks boys returned with a 4-15 to 4-10 success in a game which saw starring performances from Chrissie Hynes, Paddy Brannigan and Conor Mc Polin. Ballygalget have a comparatively young team but have an abundance of skill and the likes of Adam Doran, Ryan Coulter and Tim Prenter have helped their side to their current mid-table position. The other two sides in the League – Carryduff and CPN- had no game in the week immediately preceding the exam break and will be looking forward to the resumption of the league post exams and a chance for both sides to work their way up the table in the remaining matches.

For now however the focus of the players will be on their exams and best wishes are extended to hurlers from all Clubs, who once exam pressures are gone, can return to the concluding rounds of the league and what promises to be one of the most closely contested Minor Championships in years.