Ulster Senior Hurling Championship final – Portaferry v Slaughtneil

Consistency is the theme for Portaferry and Slaughtneil ahead of today’s Ulster Club Senior Hurling Championship final in Armagh as both come in unchanged from their last outing.

The Down champions had the straight path to this provincial decider, meaning it’s well over a month since their county final triumph against Ballygalget.

Manager, Gerard McGrattan has kept faith with the team that completed a three-in-a-row in Down with top scorer on that occasion, Tom McGrattan spearheading the attack at full-forward.

Eoghan and Dáithí Sands were also amongst the goals and their potency could be valuable today.

Unsurprisingly, Slaughtneil boss Paul McCormack has also resisted making changes from their Ulster semi-final win over Cushendall at the Athletic Grounds a fortnight ago.

Brendan Rogers claimed the man-of-the-match award that thrilling extra-time win and he is selected to start at full-forwaed once more, with another of the astars of that day, Jack Cassidy in the engine room beside Meehaul McGrath.

A strong half-back line is anchored by Conor Coyle and he is flanked by Ruairi Ó Mianáin and Shane McGuigan who have the ability to get on the scoresheet also.

Portaferry: P Smyth; D Mallon, T Murray, R Smyth; B Trainor, C Taggart, C Milligan; M Conlan, S Conlan; N Fitzsimmons, F Turpin, E Sands; D Sands, T McGrattan, N Milligan.

Slaughtneil: O O’Doherty; F McEldowney, P McNeill, C McAllister; R O Mianáin, C Coyle, Shane McGuigan; J Cassidy, M McGrath; M McGuigam, Sé McGuigan, C O’Doherty; E Cassidy, B Rogers, Shéa Cassidy.

Referee: Colum Cunning (Antrim)