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Ballinderry …….. 0-14 Killeavy ………….. 0-7THIS Green Gate Ulster Club Minor Football final at Shaw’s Road yesterday looked over at half-time as Ballinderry led by 12 points to two. Killeavy had other ideas.

The Armagh champions, despite having centre-back Paul Watters sent off just three minutes after the re-start, threw everything into a magnificent comeback bid and might well have snatched the Jimmy McConville Cup had they been more accurate up front.

The losers fired ten shots wide in the second half as they camped in Ballinderry territory but the winners’ defence, with corner-back Vivian Bell outstanding, held firm on a number of occasions when a goal looked likely. County ‘keeper Carmillus Quinn also brought off a super save from Ronan Allen.

Ballinderry did all the work required in the first half and once again Gerard Cassidy was the star of the show.

With eight points before the interval, he was stroking over free-kicks from all angles and distances. The No 11, who was awarded the Ann-Marie Donnelly Trophy as ‘man-of-the-match’, missed just once in that period.

The Derry champions ruled the midfield area, with brothers Ciaran and Niall McCusker outstanding. Ballinderry fought grimly for every ball and only on four occasions did Killeavy get a shot at goal in the first 30 minutes. The winners’ defence was always alert, nipping in to break up anything that looked like danger.

Cassidy had six points in a row from free-kicks before Killeavy managed their first score in the 22nd minute.

It arrived compliments of a brilliant solo effort by half-back Evan Quigley who set off from his own position, running along the sideline before cutting in and sending the ball over the bar.

That left it 0-8 to 0-1. Cassidy pointed again before Killeavy got their only other score of the half from a Stephen McDonnell free-kick - a long distance effort from the left wing.

Cassidy’s points rained in from left, right and centre but one of the finest scores of the match came from midfield man Conor McCusker in the second minute - a high lob which bounced over the bar.

Stephen and Darren McGeehan, and Ciaran McCusker also added to the Cassidy scoring spree. A brilliant save by Killeavy ‘keeper Brian Marmion denied Ciaran McCusker a goal in the sevenh minute.

Whatever was said to the Killeavy players during the break - it must have been to the point - certainly worked. Even when Watters was sent off, and a minute later another player booked, the Armagh challengers didn’t give up.

In fact, it seemed to spur them into positive action. Adrian Doran moved from full-forward to midfield and with Ronan Allen getting into the picture the losers took a grip of the game.

They camped in Ballinderry’s half of the field for almost all of the second half and their defence became much tighter and more alert. The good work, however, was ruined by wayward shooting that cost Killeavy dear in the long run.

From all their splendid work they could manage only five points, while Ballinderry grabbed two in the 50th and 52nd minutes of what was a crisp game to match the conditions.

Ballinderry: C Quinn; V Bell, P McIvor, S Mullan; D McKee (capt), D McNally, M Mullan (0-1); N McCusker, Conor McCusker (0-1); D Conway (0-1), G Cassidy (0-8), S McGeehan (0-1); N Conway, Ciaran McCusker (0-1), D McGeehan (0-1). Sub: J Bell for N Conway (51 mins).

Killeavy; B Marmion; L O’Hare, F Mallon, M Duffy; E Quigley (0-1), P Watters, M Quigley; C Hickey (0-1), J Reel (capt); S Allen, R Allen, S McDonnell (0-3); K McDonnell (0-1), A Doran (0-1), D Crilly. Sub: J Maguire for S Allen (46 mins).

Referee: G McClory (Antrim).

Results

U10 A final: St Gall’s 2-7 St Pauls 2-7.U10 B final: Davitt’s 2-0 - Ardoyne 1-5.