BBC SPORT | N Ireland | Errigal stun Ballinderry

Ulster Club SF semi-final:
Errigal Ciaran 0-10 0-4 Ballinderry

Tyrone champions Errigal Ciaran blasted aside the challenge of All-Ireland champions Ballinderry to charge into the Ulster SF Club final.

Dispelling their underdogs tag once more, Mickey Harte's side had total belief in themselves to run out deserved winners at Clones.

Once again skipper Peter Canavan was the spark. He orchestrated the side up front and emerged again as top scorer with four of his side's 10 points.

But it was a team performance from defence through midfield to the attack.

Surged ahead

There was no doubt that Ballinderry looked a little ring-rusty having been redundant since their quarter-final victory over Mayobridge four weeks ago.

Ballinderry might have got off to the perfect start with two Ger Cassidy's points in as many minutes.

But for the next 30 minutes they failed to trouble the scoreboard as Errigal Ciaran swept continually upfield to pick off the points.

The Tyrone side steadied themselves and had surged ahead within three minutes with Darragh Kearney, Enda McGinley and Canavan finding the target.

Errigal Ciaran, playing possession football with McGinley prominent in a busy half-back line, went further ahead when Rory McCann picked up a point via an upright.

Errigal Ciaran looked sharp up front and stubborn at the back and it was the swiftness of their attack that allowed the Tyrone side to go further ahead.

Peter Loughran rifled over a point after good work by Aidan McGinley and Canavan in the 25th minute.

Ballinderry's John Conway gets the ball away despite pressure
John Conway gets the ball away despite pressure

After Cassidy missed another free, a typical free-flowing attack by Errigal Ciaran saw midfielder Pascal Canavan nudge over his side's sixth point.

Ballinderry had a chance to grab their first point since the opening minutes, but went for goal instead of a point and a chance was lost.

It was left to Errigal Ciaran to show how to keep the scoreboard ticking over in first-half injury time.

McGinley did the damage with some strong work in midfield and he fed his skipper Canavan to pick up a another point to give his side a five-point lead at the break.

Ballinderry looked a little more urgent in the play on the restart, but again left their shooting boots behind with Enda Muldoon this time the culprit.

But they finally scored in the 32nd minute with Cassidy knocking over his second free.

Start again

But that was matched with another fine Errigal Ciaran point after great combination work between the forwards leaving Aidan McGinley an easy route for a point.

Ballinderry came more into the game, but wasted chances galore as they tried to get back into the game.

Muldoon gave them some light with a great take, turn and point, but time was quickly running out for the champions with 10 minutes remaining.

Canavan, though was not going to let his side slip up and he rifled over his third point from far out on the right to keep the five-point gap between the sides.

It was left to Canavan to wrap up Errigal's victory with a sweet turn and left-footed shot over the bar.

Errigal Ciaran will now have to start all over again when they face Enniskillen Gaels in next week's Ulster final at the same venue (1400 GMT).

Other Results

AIB Leinster SFC (1430 GMT):
Rathnew -OFF- UCD
Mattock Rangers 3-131 2-10 Moorefield
Munster Club SFC :
Kerin's O'Rahilly's 1-07 0-16 Nemo Rangers
Monaleen 1-10 1-05 Clonmel Commercials
All-Ireland Club SHC:
Sean Treacy's London 0-05 4-15 Athenry
All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie final:
Antrim 1-10 3-06 Cork
All-Ireland Junior Club final:
Tyholland 6-07 1-09 Cappawhite
All-Ireland Senior Women's Club final:
Carnacon 2-14 0-10 Carrickmore


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