Aidan Clarke's injury-time goal handed Ballycran a dramatic victory over Portaferry in yesterday's Down SHC final at Downpatrick.

Ballycran 1-11
Portaferry 0-13

Played in terrible conditions, the final was effectively a battle of the free-takers with the excellent Kevin McGarry top-scoring with 0-9 for Portaferry and Scott Nicholson posting 0-6 for the winners. Favoured by the elements in the first half, Ballycran built up a 0-9 to 0-4 lead by half-time, but two points from Kevin McGarry and another from Aaron O'Prey within four minutes of the restart had the margin down to two points.

Portaferry eventually drew level with six minutes remaining before Kevin McGarry converted two frees to give them the lead. But their hearts were broken when Clarke swooped for the winning goal in stoppage-time and then McGarry missed a late free which would have forced a replay.

SCORERS - Ballycran: S Nicholson 0-6 (0-3f,1 '65'), A Clarke 1-1, S Wilson 0-2, A Bell, C Woods 0-1 each. Portaferry: K McGarry 0-9 (7f), R McGrattan, P Braniff, S Murray, A O'Prey 0-1 each.

Ballycran - S Keith; M Hughes, S Ennis, P Brennan; A Bell, M Ennis, P Hughes; C Flynn, C Woods; C Dorrian, P Flynn, S Nicholson; J Coyle, S Wilson, A Clarke. Subs: P Keith for Brennan (h-t), C McManus for P Flynn (45).

Portaferry - K Keating; J Merron, C Coulter, P Smith; C O'Neill, B Coleman, D Coffey; R McGrattan, C O'Prey; K McGarry, P Braniff, J Convery; C Mageean, S Murray, A O'Prey. Sub: J Trainor for B Coleman (54).

Ref - D Magee (Kilclief) Tweet

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