MALACHY McROE
FERMANAGH G.A.A.
HURLING MATCH REPORTER
6 OCTOBER 2014
Ulster Senior Hurling Club Championship 2014 Semi Final
Sunday 12 October 2014
St Tiernach's Park, Clones
Lisbellaw St Patrick's, 1 gl. 11pts.   Portaferry St. Patrick's GAC,  2 gls. 17 pts.

Contradicting all personal and media speculation Lisbellaw senior hurlers did not fold against the more fancied Portaferry and at this games lead the 'Ards at the games beginning by 2 points to nil, when firstly their centre half forward Tommy Cleary fired over his side's first point from play.  Moments later his team mate and left full forward Sean Corrigan began his normal scoring spree, when he pucked over the Lisbellaw side's second point, to put they mid-Fermanagh side in the very enviable position of being 2 points unswered points over the Down senior hurling championship winners. However that very favourable situation didn't last long for the games' very fancied favourites began their well prophesied scoring tally, with firstly a supremely spectacular from a free, and all, of a 100 metres by Connor Mageean.  Pretty soon the North Down created this matches first and only draw, when Connor O'Neill popped over his side's second point from a free. That latter Portaferry score heralded a ten minute scoring dominance by the north Down with additional points from Paul Braniff ( 2 points), Connor O'Neill ( 1 pt.), Connor Magean ( 1 pt.)Robert Braniff (1 pt.), and more importantly Portaferry grabbed their first goal courtesy of Eoghan Sands. In a modest Lisbellaw's sharp shooter left full forward Sean Corrigan clipped over his second and sides third point of the match. With just over quarter of this game gone and scoreboard declaring 1 goal 8 points for the clearly dominant Portaferry side leading by a massive 1 goal 8 points to an extremely modest Lisbellaw side surviving with 3 points.
This game had become for the Lisbellaw players  and mentors a match to be managed; no more major scores to be conceded and prevent any more series off unanswered points.  To the surprise even the hurling experts from north of the Mourne's, their  much lauded Portaferry attack started to waste scoring chances, and by the games interval had wasted nine attempts at minor scores. In modest contrast their far from humble opponents in the remaining minutes of the second quarter popped, pucked and clipped over a decent 2 points from John Duffy (2 pts.)  Unfortunately the now severely under the cosh Lisbellaw side their vastly senior hurling opponents now stepped up another scoring gear, when they again a batch of three points from Connor O'Prey (1 pt.),  Ciaran Coulter ( 1pt.) Robert Braniff (1 pt.). To complete their opening half's scoring tally Portaferry's Robert Magee fired home his side's second goal. Pretty soon after this game's referee blew for the matches' interval. There was a deserved round of applause for both teams by the hurling aficionados present.
Half time scores
Lisbellaw St Patrick's, 0 gl. 5  pts.   Portaferry St. Patrick's GAC,  2 gls. 11 pts.
Second half
Lisbellaw Dig Deep
Unlike this game's opening half it was Portaferry's Robert Braniff who got this game's last thirty minutes off to scoring start, when he popped over his side's 14 tenth point from a free. Then undaunted Lisbellaw side began a purple patch of minor and major scoring, with firstly their right full back Daniel Teague, stormed up the pitch, with slithor on stick, and then from fifty metres out from his points goal to score his sides sixth point of the game.  That inspired fellow team mate John Duffy to puck over his side's seventh point from a free. They scoring ice on the Lisbellaw cake came, when their left full forward Sean Corrigan seized on an incoming slithor and then evading his markers blasted home his and sides only goal.  Ciaran Coulter and Robert Braniff responded for the other St Patrick's side with a point a piece. Thus bring the early second half scores to 1 goal 7 points for Lisbellaw to 2 goals and 14 points for the still dominant Portaferry side.  As the matches third quarter was drawing to a close. Lisbellaw goal scorer Sean Corrigan popped over his side's eight point from a free.  The concluding quarter saw the mid Fermanagh side massively step up their attacking game, thus taking their erstwhile dominant opponents almost by complete surprise, when Lisbellaw moral boastingly fired over another three points from firstly Sean Corrigan (2 points) and John Duffy (1 point) in the dying moments in an increasingly competitive and enjoyable match.   In as final reply Portaferry's Robert Braniff, Connor O'Prey and Connor Magean pucked their sides last three points. Shortly afterwards this matches referee blew full time a game that they media pundits had written off this match as a stroll in the park for kingpins Portaferry, who for forced to waste 19 wide's.  As final score below testifies, it wasn't, with depleted team Lisbellaw for this march forcible put it up to their more fancied opponents and able to raise their in the matches' last quarter were able to score an additional three points. Lisbellaw players, management and supporters should be rightly happy with Sunday's performance.  Come the 'Law.
Final Scores
Lisbellaw St Patrick's, 1 gl. 11pts.   Portaferry St. Patrick's GAC,  2 gls. 17 pts.
Referee, Owen Elliot (Antrim
Teams, Lisbellaw St Patrick's, Mark Curry, Daniel Teague (1 pt.), Fergus Bannon, Ciaran Corrigan, Mathew Teague, Mark Slevin, Odhran Russell, john Duffy ( 5 pts. frees), Rory Porteous, Andrew Breslin, Tommy Cleary ( 1pt.), Karl Kehoe, J.P. McGarry, Shane Mulholland & Sean Corrigan ( 1 gl. 5 pts.).
Subs., Colm McPhillip's, Joe Gavin, Jack Gavin, Brian Jones, Aran Magee, Ciaran McTeague, Michael Williamson for T. Cleary, Paul Jones, Connor McShea for Shane Mulholland, Sean Porteous & Connor Goodwin.
Managers, Brian Johnston & Aidy McPhillip's
Portaferry St. Patrick's GAC, Karol Keating, Caolan Taggart, Connor O'Neill (2 pt. frees), Connor O'Prey ( 2 pts. frees), Mathew Conlan, john Convery (Capt.),  Ciaran Coulter ( 1 pt.), Andy Savage ( 1 pt.), Connor Mageean 1 gl. 1 pt.), Robert Magee, Paul Braniff ( 6 pts., 4 frees), Brendan Coleman, Sean Magean ( 1pt.), Eoghan Sands & Peter Mason.
Manager, Sean Young.

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