Errigal Ciaran (Tyrone) 0-11
Ballinderry (Derry) 0-10
Thomas Canavan was the match-winning hero for Errigal Ciaran after his injury-time free helped them to a dramatic success over Ballinderry in their quarter-final tie in Healy Park in Omagh.
Canavan, who struck 0-5 overall, fired over the winning score after Ballinderry had notched five points without reply to draw level in a game where both teams finished with 14 men.
Ballinderry’s Colin Wilkinson was sent-off on in the 43rd minute after being shown a second yellow card before Errigal Ciaran’s Damien McDermott was red-carded in the 48th minute.
It was a dramatic victory for Errigal Ciaran with their manager Ronan McGuckin notably not involved in the game as he stepped down from his position due to the fact that he is a Ballinderry clubman.
There was further pre-match intrigue in the fact that Ballinderry trainer Joe Canavan had also vacated his position as he is an Errigal Ciaran club man.
Errigal Ciaran made an early burst with Thomas Canavan’s 15th point pushing them into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead. Yet Ballinderry fought back and by the 20th minute were level thanks to a point from Conleth Gilligan. Ciaran McGinley (Errigal Ciaran) and Colin Devlin (Ballinderry) traded points to leave the teams tied at 0-5 apiece at the interval.
Errigal Ciaran exploded from the blocks in the second-half with Canavan (2), Brian Horisk (2) and Davey Harte all raising white flags to send them ahead by 0-10 to 0-5 by the 40th minute mark.
Both teams then saw themselves reduced to 14 men before Dermot McGuckin kickstarted Ballinderry’s recovery with a 49th minute point. That was followed by further points by Kevin McGuckin, Enda Muldoon and Dermot McGuckin before Devlin grabbed the equalizer in the 49th minute.
Yet Errigal Ciaran, competing in their first Ulster club championship since 2006, secured success with that late point from Canavan. They will now watch on with interest to see how next week’s quarter-final tie between Crossmaglen Rangers and St Eunan’s unfolds with the winners to meet Errigal Ciaran at the semi-final stage on November 18th.
St Gall’s Sean Burke gets his shot away. Pic: INPHO/Presseye/John McVitty
St Gall’s (Antrim) 1-15
Tempo Maguires (Fermanagh) 0-9
St Gall’s issued a powerful statement of intent in their opening clash in the Ulster Club SFC yesterday when they had nine points to spare over Fermanagh champions Tempo Maguires in Enniskillen.
The Antrim kingpins, who have vast experience of competing at this level, raced into a 0-4 to 0-0 lead by the 7th minute with CJ McGourty to the fore in the scoring stakes. Ciaran McElroy did get off Tempo Maguire’s off the mark on the scoreboard with a point.
But St Gall’s then took over with Kevin McGourty and Kevin Niblock amongst their point-scorers as they stormed into a 0-12 to 0-1 lead. Aodhan Gallagher raised the only green flag of the game in the 29th minute to ensure St Gall’s enjoyed a 1-12 to 0-2 half-time lead.
Tempo Maguire’s were far more competitive in the second-half with McElroy and Daryl Keenan both raising white flags yet St Gall’s had developed a sufficient advantage to ensure they would set up a semi-final meeting with Kilcoo on November 18th.
Ballybay’s Thomas Kerr in action against Kilcoo’s Paul Devlin. Pic: INPHO/Presseye/Philip Fitzpatrick
Kilcoo (Down) 0-13
Ballybay (Monaghan) 0-6
Kilcoo enjoyed a rewarding trip to St Tiernach’s Park in Clones as they got the better of Monaghan champions Ballybay by seven points in their provincial quarter-final clash yesterday afternoon.
Paul Devlin was the attacking star as he fired six points in total and his scoring input in the first-half helped Kilcoo move into a 0-6 to 0-3 lead by the break. Ryan Johnston and Paul Greenan got in on the scoring act in the second-half for Kilcoo as they ran out victors against a Ballybay side who were reduced to 14 men when Drew Wylie was dismissed.
Kilcoo now gear up for a semi-final clash with Antrim’s St Gall’s in a fortnight.
