Clonduff ease past Portaferry

Clonduff ease past Portaferry

16 October 2024

DISAPPOINTMENT for Portaferry as Clonduff imposed themselves on their opponents in Saturday’s Down Senior Camogie Championship final in Kilclief.

Fionnuala Carr and Paula O’Hagan contributed ten points between them and Orla Gribben, a veteran of nine title wins, hitting a goal and two points.

Yes, Clonduff simply carried too much experience for Portaferry who struggled to break down their defence at any point during the game, except for their goal.

As the game wore on Niamh Mallon was more often in defence picking up possession than causing any threat at the other end.

Her marker, Erin Rafferty, did an excellent job and deservedly picked up the player of the match award. But she was just one of a number of players who contributed to a strong performance from the Hilltown team.

Portaferry promised more when Niamh Mallon pointed a free in the second minute, but six minutes later they were in bother.

Paula O’Hagan had replied with a point and then Sara Louise Graffin broke the cover to rattle a shot off the cross-bar. The sliotar was partially cleared and went out for a sideline.

Less than a minute later it was in the Portaferry net, Fiona McGarry given no chance when Orla Gribben took a pass from Fionnuala Carr and whipped a shot home from close range.

An O’Hagan free, either side of two scores from Fionnula Carr, one a free and the other a sideline, extended Clonduff’s lead to 1-5 to 0-1. Portaferry needed scores, but even Mallon frees couldn’t provide them from frees.

However in the 19th minute the All-star nominee threaded an excellent pass through for Niamh Savage to race clear and find the net. Could Portaferry be back in the game? The answer was an emphatic no.

Clonduff took control again and added two frees from O’Hagan and a point from Gribben.

You just knew that an interval lead of 1-8 to 1-1 was going to be enough in the conditions unless Portaferry got goals and there was little indication that they could break down the Clonduff defence again.

O’Hagan frees extended the lead to 1-11 to 1-1 in the opening ten minutes of the second half. Eventually Saoirse Sands got forward for a point in the 45th minute but the game had already got scrappy, with players wandering out of position and there was no pattern of play.

Clonduff saw it out comfortable with sub Ceallagh Byrne providing the only real highlight of the final quarter when she grabbed her side’s final score.

After Clonduff won their second All-Ireland Intermediate title two years ago, Down’s grading has been upped to senior status and that means an Ulster senior club semi-final against holders Loughgiel on November 3. The Derry champions will be known on Saturday with Slaughtneil going for ten in a row when they take Swatragh. Whoever emerges from that game will be through to the final on November 16.

Clonduff: C Fitzpatrick, E Rafferty, J Boden, I O’Hare, N McConville, B Fitzpatrick, K Morgan, O McCusker, C McGilligan capt, SL Graffin, C Kearney, E Shields, P O’Hagan (0-7, 6 frees), F Carr (0-3, 1 free, 1 sideline), O Gribben (1-2).

Subs: C Byrne (0-1) for E Shields (49), T Savage for N McConville (55), L Rafferty for O Gribbin (60), U Keanrey for O McCusker (60 + 3).

Portaferry: F McGarry, E Gallagher, L Coulter, A Mallon, C Coleman, D Coleman, J Toner, N Savage (1-0), E McCarthy, G McGrattan, S Sands capt (0-1), Colleen McConnell, Caeiligh McConnell, N Mallon (0-2 frees), C Doran.

Subs: E McGrattan for N Savage (ht), R Murray for G McGrattan (55),

Referee: F Caldwell.