St. Mary’s Portaferry win indoor hurling title 

St. Mary’s Portaferry became 2010 indoor hurling champions after clinical display in the

  final, beating arch rivals St. Patrick’s Ballygalget 5 – 1, at Portaferry Leisure Centre on Wednesday 27^thJanuary. St. Mary’s Portaferry became Down Indoor Hurling champions for 2010 after a scintillating display of hurling in Portaferry Leisure Centre on Wed. 27th January. Having won four of their games in easy fashion, the only resistance they encountered was from near neighbours St. Patrick’s Ballygalget with whom they drew in the round robin series. How fitting it was that both these teams should complete their programme level on points and so were involved in a play off to establish this year’s champions. In all six teams qualified for the finals with the non Ards teams winning area competitions to be there. Accompanying St. Patrick’s Ballygalget, St. Mary’s Portaferry and St. Mary’s Kircubbin were the ‘ mainland teams’ of St. Patrick’s Hilltown, St. Bronagh’s Rostrevor and St. Francis’ Aghaderg. In the opening round St. Mary’s Portaferry had a facile victory over St. Mary’s Kircubbin, St. Patrick’s Ballygalget struggled to beat St. Patrick’s Hilltown by the narrowest of margin as St. Bronagh’s Rostrevor, making their first appearance at this stage of the competition, accounted for St. Francis’ Aghaderg. In the second round St. Mary’s Kircubbin beat St. Patrick’s Hilltown in a thrilling match, St. Patrick’s Ballygalget overran St. Bronagh’s Rostrevor while St. Francis’ Aghaderg succumbed to St. Mary’s Portaferry. In the third round, leading contenders St. Patrick’s Ballygalget and St. Mary’s Portaferry ended all square after a hectic match, St. Bronagh’s Rostrevor lost to St. Patrick’s Hilltown before St. Francis’ Aghaderg struggled past St. Mary’s Kircubbin. In round four both the Portaferry and Ballygalget teams maintained their unbeaten records at the expense of the Rostrevor and Kircubbin teams respectively while Hilltown’s accuracy proved too much for Aghaderg. Into the final round of matches and with the leading contenders St. Patrick’s Ballygalget and St. Mary’s Portaferry maintaining their run of victories a playoff was necessary. Two local skilful hurling teams, who had earlier played an exciting draw, now qualified for the playoff . The final proved to be a most exciting encounter with both teams displaying all the skills essential for this fast moving game. St. Mary’s Portaferry took an early lead and although the Ballygalget boys countered well, Portaferry soon had doubled this advantage. St. Patrick’s Ballygalget were rewarded for their attacking play by a goal but St. Mary’s persevered and some long range scores increased their lead and enabled them to be crowned Down champions for 2010. RESULTS St. Mary’s Portaferry 7 St. Mary’s Kircubbin 0 St. Patrick’s Hilltown 2 St. Patrick’s Ballygalget 3 St. Bronagh’s Rostrevor 1 St. Francis’ Aghaderg 0 St. Mary’s Kircubbin 6 St. Patrick’s Hilltown 4 St. Patrick’s Ballygalget 5 St. Bronagh’s Rostrevor 1 St. Francis’ Aghaderg 1 St. Mary’s Portaferry 3 St. Patrick’s Hilltown 3 St. Bronagh’s Rostrevor 1 St. Mary’s Portaferry 3 St. Patrick’s Ballygalget 3 St. Mary’s Kircubbin 0 St. Francis’ Aghaderg 1 St. Francis’ Aghaderg 0 St. Patrick’s Hilltown 2 St. Bronagh’s Rostrevor 0 St. Mary’s Portaferry 5 St. Patrick’s Ballygalget 3 St. Mary’s Kircubbin 1 St. Patrick’s Hilltown 0 St. Mary’s Portaferry 5 St. Mary’s Kircubbin 4 St. Bronagh’s Rostrevor 1 St. Francis’ Aghaderg 2 St. Patrick’s Ballygalget 6 Playoff: St. Patrick’s Ballygalget 1 St. Mary’s Portaferry 5 After the final whistle, the organiser Mr John Gallagher from Cumann na mBunscol an Dúin complimented all those who had participated in such an exciting, skilful yet most sporting competition. He praised the coaches from all the teams while thanking the referee Fergal Rogers for his efforts and the staff of Portaferry Leisure for their assistance on the day. He presented medals to both finalist and the trophy to Eoin Savage captain of the victorious Portaferry team. St. Mary’s Portaferry now represent Down in the Ulster championship shortly.