On a day when the Portaferry community came together to rally behind their hurlers, thoughts of the late Ciara Mageean were not far away.
Before the St Patrick’s men scored a 1-25 to 2-14 win over Dunloy to book their place in the Ulster Club SHC final on Saturday, 28 November, a minute’s silence took place in honour of an icon of Irish sport who lost her battle with cancer two weeks ago, aged 34.
Mageean, who played camogie for Portaferry as a youngster, also helped out with the club’s senior hurlers in recent times.
Finn Turpin, who scored six points from play in Portaferry’s win on Sunday, spoke of what the late two-time Olympian meant to all within the Portaferry community and hopes their win can help put a smile on the faces of the town.
“It’s been a tough few weeks for the club, as a community and in town,” Turpin told BBC Sport NI’s Odhran Crumley after Sunday’s win in Armagh.
“That win was for her and hopefully her family can get a bit of joy out of that today because they did it for her.
“Ciara, she was unbelievable. She was in with us the past few years, she sent us her expertise and what we could do.
“It’s unbelievable that we’re back in an Ulster final and hopefully we can win it.”