Ballinderry Shamrocks

The lucky letters for Monday 7th April were F, G, E, X, £50 winners were Gavin Devlin & Aidan McGeehan. Next week’s Jackpot £2800.

We qualified for the final of this year’s Larkin Cup last Monday night when we beat Bellaghy on a score line of 3-12 fo 0-6. Playing with the wind advantage in the first half we started well took a two point lead thanks to two frees from James Bateson, we then got our first goal of the game when the Bellaghy keeper fumbled a long ball into the square and James Bateson was on hand ti punch the ball into the net.
We continued to dominate and further points from James Bateson, Martin Harney, Barren Conway, Barrel McGeehan and Shane Rocks stretched our lead further. Bellaghy could only manage two points in response Then just before half time we extended our lead further when Darren McGeehan found Martin Harney with beautiful pass and he made no mistake as he side footed the ball past the keeper for our second goal to leave u well in control at half time.

Half time: Ballinderry 2-7 Bellaghy 0-2

Any hopes of Bellaghy getting off to a good start to the second half were quickly erased and two points from James Bateson (free), and Martin Harney further extended our lead. Bellaghy managed to get into the game and scored a couple of unanswered points but this revival was short lived, and a Raymond Wilkinson point was followed by our third goal of the game when Raymond Wilkinson cheekily beat the Bellaghy keeper from the penalty spot, after Shane Rocks was upended in the penalty area. Both teams then had a man each sent off after an off the ball incident. Further points from Brendan Conway and Fabian Muldoon rounded off our scoring for the night and left us comfortable victors. We now play Kilrea in the final.

Final Score: Ballinderry 3-12 Bellaghy 0-6

Team & Scorers: M.Conlan, D.Bell, N.McCusker, M.Bell, R.Scott, R.McGuckin, B.Conway (0-1), M.Hamey (1-2), K.McGuckin (Moss), R. Wilkinson (1-1), D.Conway (0-1), S.Rocks (0-1), D.McGeehan (0-1), J.Bateson (1-4, 4f), R.Devlin. Subs Used: C.Nevin, K. Hagan, F.Muldoon (0-1), G.Cassidy & C.Cassidy.

Reserves

Our reserves played their second league game on Saturday evening against Banagher and ran out easy winners on a score line of 4-16 to 0-4. Our goals coming from Martin Cassidy, Aidan Heron and two from Cathal Cassidy.

Our U-16’s started their league campaign on Thursday evening at home to Craigbane. Craigbane started well and dominated the early exchanges around the middle but we soon settled and as the game went on we began to gain more control and eventually ran out winners on a score line of 2-9 to 1-3, our goals coming from Emmett McGeehan and Harry Wilkinson.

The draws for this year’s u-16 and minor championships were made last week. In the u-16 championship we will play the winners of Dungiven or Newbridge in the Quarter finals, and in the Minor championship quarter final we will meet the winners of Greenlough or Ballinascreen.

Tuesday 15th April 7pm - Minors at home to Dungiven; Thursday 17th April 7pm - U-16’s away to Glen; Friday 18th April 7pm - Reserves at home to Loup; Sunday 20th April 3pm - Senior’s at home to Dungiven; Sunday 20th April - Thirds at home to Bellaghy III, Time to be confirmed; Monday 21 st April 7pm - U-14’s away to Slaughtneil.

The club are holding a poker classic on Friday 18th April in Kinturk Cultural Centre for the club’s injured player’s recovery scheme. First deal is at 9pm, tickets can be purchased from any senior player or committee member. Tickets cost £20 and include supper.