SLEACHT Néill have been crowned the hurling kings of Ulster after another thrilling showing at the Athletic Grounds, his time against Portaferry.
The game was a tale of two halves, more specifically of two goals in the end as Roibeard Eiméid’s claimed a three-point victory in the end.
Portaferry started the game as the stronger side, managing to amass a seven-point lead by the halfway stage, with Tom McGrattan and Michael Conlan proving crucial for the side.
However, after halftime, it was the boys from Derry who have the upper hand, with Sé and Shane McGuigan providing an attacking threat and Ruairí Ó Mianáin, who won man of the match, marshalling the defence for the side.
A quickfire double from Sé McGuigan and Shéa Cassidy proved to be the turning point for the game with the stunned Portaferry players slumping after those two goals.
The recovery proved too late and they fell victim to the seemingly unstoppable force of Sleacht Néill.
This showpiece was decided when Derry’s monopolistic champions Sleacht Néill edged out back-to-back Antrim champions Ruairí Óg of Cushendall after extra time.
The maroon and whites faced Portaferry, who won the Down championship after convincingly beating their Ards rivals Ballygalget in the final at Pairc Esler.
The last time these two teams played each other was the 2022 Ulster semi-final when the Derry side came out 2-24 to 0-11 winners.
Sleacht Néill regained the title that they last won in 2021 when they defeated Ballycran and now have five Ulster titles to their name.
It’s now been 11 years since Portaferry won an Ulster title when they beat Ruairí Óg, Cushendall.
Robert Emmet’s will now face Cork and Munster champions Sarsfields, who defeated the much-fancied Ballygunnar in Thurles on Sunday afternoon.
The winner of that tie will play either Na Fianna of Dublin or Loughrea of Galway for the All-Ireland Club Senior Hurling title.
None of this year’s All-Ireland finalists have won a national title before, so it’s anyone’s game from here on in.