Liatroim 0-18 Portaferry 3-24
REIGNING champions Portaferry continued their flying start to the Morgan Fuels Down Senior Hurling Championship as they dismantled Liatroim with a 15-point victory in round three.
A goal in the second quarter helped to open up some breathing space between the pair before the break and Gerard McGrattan’s men really took control of the contest during the second half.
The sides were tied early on and couldn’t be separated during the opening quarter, level 0-7 apiece after the opening 15 minutes. But that first Portaferry major pushed them in front, and they led 1-12 to 0-10 at the half time break.
A second three-pointer from the champions saw them open up an eight-point gap by the end of the third quarter and they raised another green flag before the final whistle sounded to finish with a handsome victory.
Ballygalget 1-15 Carryduff 1-12
Ballygalget picked up a third straight win as they continued their unbeaten start to the Senior Hurling Championship, seeing off Carryduff by three-points on Saturday afternoon.
A first half goal from the eventual winners was the all-important score and it gave Ben Toner’s men a one-point lead at the halfway stage, with Ballygalget ahead 1-5 to 0-7 after 30 minutes of action.
Carryduff, who tasted their second defeat of the campaign, rattled the net themselves during the second half, but Ballygalget just had enough to keep their opponents at arm’s length and held on to win by three in the end.
Ballycran 2-22 Bredagh 0-10
Ballycran earned their first victory of the championship campaign as they impressively saw off the challenge of Bredagh, stretching ahead by 18-points by the time the final whistle sounded.
Ballycran, who have lost the last two county finals and competed in the six most recent deciders, pulled away to earn a landslide win after the turnaround, handing Bredagh their third defeat on the trot.
The sides were evenly matched early on and were tied 0-5 apiece after the opening 15 minutes but a first three-pointer for Michael Ennis’s side gave them a five-point cushion at the half time interval, 1-9 to 0-7.
The 2021 SHC winners stretched ahead with a dominant third quarter and a second goal saw them build up an uncatchable lead, which eventually allowed them to pull well clear at full time.