Quote from: johnnycool on November 20, 2023, 09:06:28 AMQuote from: Splash on November 20, 2023, 01:07:24 AMGut wrenching for Portaferry. Should have got the win today.
I'm sure there'll be a lot of 'what ifs' on the long road back to the Ards Peninsula from Armagh. There were chances when they could have sealed it, but there's a lot of positives to take away from today nonetheless. They gave it a lash. Couldn't have asked much more of them.
Plenty of young players stood up today when it was needed, and there'll be plenty for them to take away from this game.
If Portaferry perform like that regularly, the future could be bright for this group.
Ultimately Neil McManus was the difference. Other players played their role, but not many can do what McManus did today. To score half of Cushendall's points, keeping the Antrim men within touching distance of Portaferry, before putting the free in the net with the last puck of the game, to put the match to extra time, was phenomenal on his behalf.
Genuinely think the Ports gave it their best shot, and couldn't have done too much more today. Did themselves proud.
White line fever...
They had it in sight, four points up. 5 minutes of ordinary time to go and spurned the additional few points that would have put the game beyond Cushendall..
Making the right call, not shooting wildly in panic comes with experience and that bit of knowhow in tight situations.
The injury to Eoghan Sands was pivotal all the same, he ran himself into the ground.
Portaferry left it behind them some great young players on the team.. End to end game huge physicality.. All the same expect Slaghneil to win the final with likes of Brendan Rodgers etc..
RIP Sean, a true Gael of Down GAA (Wouldn't it be a honour towards him to see Ballykinlar revived in the future)