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Their Ards opponents were no pushovers however, as Portaferry didn't get their noses in front until midway through the second half to lead 2-8 to 1-12. A couple of good scores followed and an Eoghan Sands goal put daylight between the teams, with the reigning champions pulling away in style after that. Ballygalget led by two points after an entertaining first half, that was thanks to two Eoin Pucci goals, while Portaferry scored a maximum from the penalty spot. Ballygalget had the wind at their back for the opening 30 minutes but there was little to choose between the familiar Ards teams, with the points scoring low and traded for the most part. After misses at both ends, Marc Fisher scored the opening point for Ballygalget from a free. The sides were level at 0-2 each when Ballygalget netted from a puc out at the other end with Pucci raising a green flag in the eighth minute. Five minutes later, Daithi Sands set up Niall Milligan who tried to walk the sliother into the net. He was fouled in the process and after consultation between the officials Portaferry were awarded a penalty that Cathal Coleman drilled home. There was no shaking Ballygalget however as Pucci responded almost immediately with his second goal to make it 2-2 to 1-3 and with points traded for the rest of the half Ballygalget led 2-6 to 1-7 at the break. Six minutes into the second half, Portaferry had levelled proceedings 2-7 to 1-10 and a point from Shane Conlon gave them the lead for the first time in the game. An Eoghan Sands goal on 43 minutes put them into a five point lead and lovelyscores from Coleman and Finn Turpin stretched the advantage to seven. Pucci tried to keep Ballygalget in touch as he fired over a few more frees but Portaferry finished the match in style, scoring eleven more points as they left their opponents for dust. Slaughtneill await in the first round of the Ulster Championship and Portaferry will be hoping to make amends for last year's disappointing defeat to the Derry Champions in last year's Ulster Final. Scorers for Ballygalget: E Pucci (2-6,4f), M Fisher (0-4, 3f), M Og Dorian (0-2), O Coulter (0-1) Scorers for Portaferry: C Coleman (1-8, pen,4f), E Sands (1-0), N Fitzsimmons (0-5), F Turpin (0-4), D Sands (0-2), B Trainor (0-1), S Conlon (0-1), N Milligan (0-1), C Fay (0-1), N Rogers (0-1) BALLYGALGET: E Clarke; M Toner, C Watson, O Birt; B Teggart, J McManus, M Fisher; Cormac Coulter, T Prenter; O Coulter, M Og Dorrian, Cathal Coulter; Caolan Coulter, S Pucci, E Pucci Subs: O McDermott for Birt (41), J Smyth for McManus (47), O McDermott for Cormac Coulter (60) PORTAFERRY: P Smyth; D Mallon, C Taggart, R Smyth; B Trainor, M Conlan, C Milligan; T Murray, S Conlan; N Fitzsimmons, F Turpin, C Coleman; E Sands, N Milligan, D Sands Subs: C Mageean for S Conlan (54), N Rogers for Milligan (57), C Fay for Murray (58), C Savage for Milligan (60+1), E Magee for E Sands (60+2) Referee: Terence Masterson
