Cushendall made the long trip down to the Ards Peninsula to face Down champions Portaferry in the first game of the new league campaign.

Referee Terry O'Reilly got the game underway and almost immediately Brendan Coleman scored the 1st point of the day for the Ports after a nice solo run. Paddy McGill immediately responded for the 'Dall, after receiving a nice pass from Ryan McCambridge and split the uprights from 30 yards. Paul Braniff edged the Ports in front from a dead ball and when Braniff then finished to the 'Dall net a minute later after nice work from John Convery, Portaferry were up by 4.

Karl McKeegan then pointed a free for Cushendall and from the resulting puc out Aaron O' Prey won possession, soloed in on the 'Dall goal and buried another goal past Ronan Kearney and suddenly Portaferry were up by 6.

Paddy McGill and Karl McKeegan knocked over points for Cushendall but back came Portaferry with points from the hurls of Brendan Coleman and Paul Braniff.

Karl McKeegan added 2 more points, one from play and one from a dead ball for the 'Dall and then came the turning point in the game when corner back Matt Conlan struck Ruairi Og player Ryan McCambridge off the ball and received a red card for his trouble.

Mark Donaghy and Paddy McGIll added points for Cushendall and then Paul Braniff added 2 points to steady Portaferry. However there was just time for Karl McKeegan

to knock over Cushendall’s last point of the half to leave the half time score: Portaferry 2-06 V Ruairi Og 0-09.

Ruairi Óg came out in the 2nd half with a man advantage and the wind in their favour and immediately started to claw into Portaferry’s slender lead. Donal McNaughton sent over a free from 90 yards and Karl McKeegan added a point. Then came Ruairí Óg’s only goal when Paddy McGill picked out the on-rushing Eoghan Campbell who in turn passed the ball off to Karl Mc Keegan. The rampaging centre-forward then swivelled beautifully around his man before hammering an unstoppable shot into the Portaferry net.

From the puc-out Cushendall won possession and the ball once again reached that man Karl McKeegan, and he arrowed over a sublime effort to put the 'Dall up by 3 points. Eoghan Sands then came on to try and spark Portaferry into life and he immediately won a free which Paul Braniff easily dispatched over the Cushendall bar. Ruairi Og wing half Paddy Burke flighted over a majestic effort from fully 80 yards and Cushendall were within spitting distance of the 2 points.

But full credit to Portaferry - they never stopped trying and when Paul Braniff slung over a free and then Eoghan Sands banged in a 3rd goal after a goal mouth scramble, the Ports were now a point up with seven minutes remaining on the clock.

Cushendall then made a few changes in personnel with Shea McNaughton and Andy Delargy replacing Donal MCNaughton and Mark Donaghy respectively. This added a freshness and Cushendall went on to add the next 3 points: two from Aidan McNaughton and one from Eoghan Campbell to put the 'Dall two up going into injury time.

Portaferry were then awarded a free 70 yards from goal, and there was a bit of ‘handbags’ involving several players from each team. Once order was restored Paul Braniff dropped the ball in and first Ronan McGrady and then Conor Grant made great blocks to deny the Portaferry attack. After that final flurry, referee Terry O'Reilly blew the full time whistle and Cushendall had won on a scoreline of Portaferry 3-08 Ruairi Og 1-16

This was a tough, uncompromising game of hurling, played in trying conditions and it was in general, a good spectacle for those spectators who had endured the biting cold wind.

For Portaferry, they tried hard especially in the 1st half, but the sending off of Matt Conlon, was a blow from which they never really recovered. Conor O'Neill, Caolan Taggart, Aaron O'Prey and Paul Braniff all tried hard, but their efforts were in vain.

On the other hand Ruairí Óg had to be pleased with this performance. They picked up the two points despite missing quite a few regulars including the players on county duty. This meant some of the younger players in their panel picked up valuable experience. Sean Delargy, Donal McNaughton and Paddy Burke were top notch in defence, Eoghan Campbell was very good in midfield and up top Paddy McGill, Aidan McNaughton and Eunan McKillop were all in good form.

However man of the match must go to Cushendall’s Karl McKeegan: his work rate and leadership were phenomenal and to score 1-07, with 1-04 from play, was certainly inspirational.

Sub Eoghan Sands (1-0)

Subs Ronan McGrady, Shea McNaughton and Andy Delargy