Hurling & Camogie

Morgan Fuels Down SHC: Ards trio look to assert their authority

Ballygalget and Portaferry sit joint top after two rounds while Ballycran are yet to get off the mark

Ballycran observe a minute's silence for club member, the late Dawn Egan Picture: Philip Walsh
Ballycran have been in the last six county finals but have yet to gain a point from their two games in this year's championship Picture: Philip Walsh

Morgan Fuels Down SHC round three

Saturday Ballygalget v Carryduff (5pm)

Sunday Ballycran v Bredagh (1pm); Liatroim v Portaferry (6pm)

BALLYGALGET are one of only two unbeaten teams after the opening two rounds of games, alongside champions Portaferry.

Having already chalked up victories over Liatroim and last year’s beaten finalists Ballycran, Ben Toner’s men are hoping to make it three on the trot when they host Carryduff today.

The Ards side rattled off five goals the last day out against Liatroim, while Carryduff claimed 2-15 as they picked up their first win, seeing off Bredagh by six.

Bredagh will be eager to bounce back having lost both their outings to date, against Portaferry and Carryduff respectively. They are on the road tomorrow as they travel to Ballycran, who find themselves just above their opponents on scoring difference at the bottom of the table.

The 2021 champions, who have lost the last two finals to Portaferry, have suffered losses to Ballygalget and Portaferry by six and 15 points respectively.

Their most recent outing against Portaferry, a repeat of the last six championship deciders, was as good as over by half-time as the holders built up a 2-12 to 0-5 lead with the advantage of a stiff breeze.

The second half was a tighter affair, but Ballycran couldn’t do enough to close the gap and lost out 2-22 to 0-13 in the end.

They’ll hope that home advantage will play its role tomorrow and guide them towards their first points.

Liatroim, the 2022 Ulster intermediate winners, reached the semi-finals of last year’s senior competition and they’ll be hoping to go one step further this time around. They have the ultimate test this weekend, however, as they come up against Portaferry, who have put up two enormous scorelines in their opening two rounds, hitting a combined tally of 6-52.

Collie Murphy’s Fontenoys outfit earned a handsome victory over Carryduff in the opening round but were nine points adrift of Ballygalget two weeks ago.

Portaferry were seven-point winners when these sides crossed swords last season, so Liatroim will want to close that gap.