Slaughtneil stun Portaferry to lift Ulster Hurling title

Slaughtneil produced a superb second-half turnaround to stun Portaferry and lift the Ulster Club Hurling Championship with a 2-19 to 1-19 win at the Athletic Grounds.

Trailing by eight midway through the second period, it seemed a big ask for Paul McCormack's men to turn things their way as they had been second best up until then, but two goals in the space of a minute from Se McGuigan and Shea Cassidy gave them momentum and they powered home late in the game.

The Down champions flew out of the traps with Matthew Conlon hitting the first of his three first-half points within seconds, while Eoghan Sands, Tom McGrattan and Niall Fitzsimmons extended the gap before Slaughtneil finally got on the board through Shane McGuigan.

Portaferry were much the better side throughout, with their defenders swarming around the ball and attacking play much more direct as the scores continued to flow as Finn Turpin chipped in with two points.

They lead by six midway through the opening half and could have been further ahead only for a stunning stop by Slaughtneil goalkeeper Oisin O'Doherty from Daithi Sands.

Slaughtneil were guilty of overplaying the ball when going forward, but their shooting also let them down with five wides and four shots short in the opening period as their forwards struggled.

Ruairi O Mianain and Jack Cassidy chipped in with scores and Cormac O'Doherty landed a couple from frees, while they were denied a goal late in the half when Tom Murray made a vital stop on the line from Fionn McEldowney.

It took until the 29th minute for their first score by a forward from play as Brendan Rogers got his angles right, but Tom McGrattan's fifth of the half gave Portaferry a deserved 0-13 to 0-6 interval advantage.

Slaughtneil looked to have more energy in the second period but weren't making huge inroads into the gap as they got to within five with the McGuigans, Shane and Se, pointing, but Portaferry were still on top with McGrattan accurate from play and frees as they moved 0-18 to 0-10 ahead.

Then came the dramatic turnaround as Shane McGuigan played in Se to crack home the goal they needed and it got even better just one minute later as Shea Cassidy was in on the left and he too buried.

Although Daiti Sands replied, points from O'Doherty (two) and Jack Cassidy levelled before Shane McGuigan gave them their first lead of the day.

There was another sting, however, as with 56 minutes on the clock, a McGrattan free dropped and broke out to Portaferry substitute Cathal Coleman to bury.

But Slaughtneil were not to be denied as O'Doherty pointed and then two from O Mianain edged them back ahead, with late scores from Jack Cassidy and Rogers sealing a remarkable win that sends them into an All-Ireland semi-final against Sarsfields from Cork in a fortnight.