Dunloy ... 0-12 Portaferry ... 1-6: Dunloy claimed another Ulster championship title at Loughgiel but both teams should get medals for braving the elements.

Dunloy won because they adapted to the conditions better and because they had more power in attack. Still, underdogs Portaferry had their chances to cause an upset but didn't take them.

Lashing rain at times and hailstones during the second half made life almost unbearable for players and spectators.

Points by Paddy Richmond and Greg O'Kane (two) sent the winners in 0-6 to 0-4 in front at the interval.

Minutes after the restart Dunloy led 0-8 to 0-5 when Peter Mallon stormed through, only to kick the ball wide. Five minutes later Noel Sands did fire the ball to the Dunloy net to level the scores.

Greg O'Kane fired over three long-range frees - he hit seven in all - with Portaferry's reply being just a point in the 58th minute from full-back Stephen Murray.

The winners' strength in depth was shown as they were forced to field without half-backs Malachy Molloy (rib injury) and Damian McMullan (toe injury) but on the plus side their skipper Gary O'Kane passed a late fitness test and lined out at centre-back to lead his side to an All-Ireland semi-final meeting with the Munster champions next spring.

In injury time, Greg O'Kane got a straight red card for a wild "pull".

DUNLOY: G McGhee; P Martin, S Mullan, F McMullan; M McClements, Gary O'Kane, P McMullan; C Cunning, C McGuckian; Greg O'Kane (0-7, fs), L Richmond (0-1), N Elliott; M Curry (0-2), A Elliott (0-1), P Richmond (0-1). Sub: E McKee for N Elliott (45 mins).

PORTAFERRY: G Smyth; E Adair, S Murray, J Trainor; M Mallon, B Coleman, B Milligan; B Braniff (0-1), G Adair; J Convery, G McGrattan, P Braniff (0-4, fs); E Trainor (0-1), P Mallon, N Sands (1-0). Subs: B Murray for B Braniff (57 mins), A Savage for P Mallon (57 mins), P Rodgers for McGrattan (57 mins).