Ballinderry Shamrocks

Peter Canavan moves clear of Niall McCusker in the semi-final

Errigal Ciaran captain Peter Canavan equalised with the last kick of the game in Sunday’s Ulster club football semi-final at Casement Park. The Tyrone side had the first-half wind advantage but Ballinderry were more dangerous in attack as the teams went in 0-5 to 0-5 at the break.

Ballinderry moved two points clear but Errigal fought back to level.

Conleth Gilligan restored Ballinderry’s lead only for Canavan’s free to force a replay at Casement next Sunday.

There was never more than one point between the teams until a Enda Muldoon free gave Ballinderry a two-point cushion early in the second half.

Errigal, despite having the wind in their faces, restored parity at 0-9 to 0-9 thanks to Owen Gormley’s fourth point of the game.

Gilligan’s fifth point edged the Derry men ahead again early in injury-time and it seemed it would be enough to secure the win.

However, Errigal won a free in the final attack of the game and after referee Seamus McGonigle twice moved the free forward it presented Canavan with a straightforward chance to equalise.

Errigal centre half-forward Pascal Canavan praised the spirit in the team.

“I suppose it’s been the mark of the team a few times this year that when we’ve been up against it we seem to get the answer from somewhere,” he said.

“We hung in there and are thankful to be still in it.

“Next Sunday is another day and whatever’s went in the past will mean for nothing.”