In 1989 Loughgiel bridged a six year gap when they won back the Ulster hurling title by beating Portaferry in a thrilling final in St Patrick’s Park, Portaferry. The old park just outside the village was a special place for a big game, its steep banking on one side making it a great place to vue the action. Despite the home team’s defeat the match is still looked back on fondly by many of the Portaferry players and fans
Battling Second Half earns Loughgiel Third Ulster Crown
Loughgiel 1-14 Portaferry 2-9
A battling second half performance in which they held their opponents to three points from frees saw Antrim Champions Loughgiel edge out Co. Down kingpins Portaferry in the final of the Ulster Club hurling Championship before an estimated crowd of 3,500 at the beautiful St. Patrick’s Park, Portaferry.
When the Down Champions went in at half time with a 2.6 to 1.6 lead after dominating for long periods of the first half, they looked well placed to take the Ulster Crown for the first time. However, the Loughgiel defence, which had looked decidedly shaky on occasions in the first half, tightened considerable in the second half and with sharpshooter Olcan ‘Cloot’ McFetridge punishing every error at the other end, the ‘reds’ won through to take the Four Seasons Cup for the first time since 1982.
It may seem an over used cliché but hurling was the real winnerin the games as both teams gave their all in search of that coveted title. In a hard fought but fair battle, in which the scores were level on six occasions, the sun drenched crowd were kept enthralled to the final whistle.
McFetridge opener
Loughgiel opened brightly and McFetridge, who lined out at full forward despite wearing No.10 pointe them in front in the opening minute from a free after he himself had been fouled. Sean Paul McKillop added another in the second minute after being well set up by Aidan McCarry but this early burst fizzled out as the home team settled to play some fine hurling.
Level
With Noel Sands and Anthony Mageean getting on top at Midfield they edged back into the game and points from George Fitzsimmons and a Brendan Coulter free brought them level by the 10th minute. McFetridge created an opening and shot a point to restore Loughgiel’s lead but a well-struck ’65 from Leonard Donaldson tied the scores again. Sean Paul McKillop scored a nice point on the run to give the visitors a slight edge once more but straight from the puck out Brendan Coulter picked up a loose ball and sent in straight over to restore parity.
Mageean Goal
McFetridge picked up a pass from Trainor and pointed the Shamrocks in front in the 17tth minute but within a minute, Portaferry were ahead when a mishit free by Coulter bounced about the goal area and Chris Mageean fired to the net. McFetridge cut the arrears in half with a pointed free in the 19th minute and less than a minute later, they looked set to regain the lead when Paddy McCarry got in behind the defence but he shot weakly at the keeper when a goal seemed certain.
Loughgiel were made to pay dearly for that miss for as play was transferred to the other goal, George Fitzsimmons banged in the Down men’s second goal to put them four points ahead.
Captain’s role
However, some heroics from Loughgiel Captain, Dominic McKinley plus good work by Paddy McIntyre and Liam Quinn in the full back line helped stem the tide and back came Loughgiel as ‘Goosty’ Trainor pounced on a loose ball in the Portaferry square to bang home a goal.
This brought the Antrim Champions to within a point with half time approaching but in the minutes that remained, Portaferry gained the upper hang again and points from Coulter and Chris Mageean put them a goal to the good (2.6 to 1.6) at the short whistle.
Fine Save
In the opening minute of the new half Loughgiel net minder Patterson was called upon to make a good save from Mageean and from his long clearance Trainor collected and sent over a lovely point at the other end. McFetridge cut the arrears to the minimum two minutes later but Coulter replied for Portaferry to put two between them again. McFetridge, from a free, and then from play tied the game in the 12th minute and three minutes later, substitute Eoin McFadden shot them ahead with his first touch of the ball.
The lead was short lived however as Portaferry came back with two points in as many minutes from Sands and Coulter to edge in front with just twelve minutes left to play.
Loughgiel on top
However this was to be their last score of the game as Loughgiel got on terms when McKinley pointed a ’65 and McFetridge put them in front with points from frees in the twenty second and twenty third minutes. The closing minutes were nail-biting as both team created chanced but defences held sway and the Shamrocks secured the Ulster Crown by a two-point margin.
How the played
Niall Patterson, despite carrying an ankle injury had a fine game in the Loughgiel goal, as did Paddy McIntyre at full back. Liam Quinn was sound at right corner while left back Damien Carey had many anxious moments in the first half he settled to have a grand second. Dominic McKinley had a tremendous battle with Brendan Coulter at the centre of the defence and though both had their periods of dominance the Loughgiel Captain eventually got the upper hand. This was also the case with right halfback Declan McKillop who had a tough time when Chris Mageean moved out in the first half but like McKinley he finished strongly and made many telling clearances while midfielders McMullan and Connolly played second fiddle for most of the hour, but their persistence paid off in the end.
Like so often this season, the forward department depended on McFetridge who gave another fine display but he was well supported by Sean Paul McKillop and corner forward Goosty Trainor who had his best game in the red shirt for a long time.
Stephen Wilson, Marty Mallon and the outstanding Paul McMullan were Portaferry’s defensive stars while at midfield Sands and Mageean started brilliantly though they faded somewhat near the end. Up front, Brendan Coulter, Chris Mageean and corner forward George Fitzsimmons always caused problems for the Loughgiel rearguard.
Scorers:
Loughgiel: Olcan McFetridge (0:09), Gerard Trainor (1:01), Sean Paul McKillop (0:02) Dominic McKinley (0:01), Eoin McFadden (0:01)
Portaferry: Brendan Coulter (0:05), Chris Mageean (1:01), George Fitzsimmons (1:01), Noel Sands (0:01), Leonard Donaldson (0:01).
Loughgiel: N. Patterson, L.Quinn, P.McIntyre, D.Carey, D.McKillop, D.McKinley, A.McNaughton, D.McMullan, S.Connolly, S.P.McKillop, A.McCarry, P.McCarry, S.McNaughton, O.McFetridge, G.Trainor. Subs – E.McFadden for P.McCarry, L.McCollum for A.McNaughton, E.McGarry for S.McNaughton.
Portaferry: J. Denvir, P.Smyth, B.Mageean, S.Wilson, M.Mallon, P.McMullan, L.Donaldson, N.Sands, A.Mageean, K.Fitzsimmons, B.Coulter, P.Mason, G.Fitzsimmons, C.Mageean, K.McManus.
Referee: Gerry McClorey Antrim.
