Ballinderry 1-13 St Vincents 2-14
Ballinderry Shamrocks’ dream of emulating their All-Ireland Senior Football Club Championship win in 2002 were ended by Leinster champions St Vincents in their semi-final clash at Pairc Esler in Newry this evening.
The Derry and Ulster champions put in a battling performance but, in the end, the Dubliners proved to have just have a little more in their locker than the Derrymen.
Ballinderry recovered from a nervy start – which saw them trail by six points at one point – and can consider themselves unlucky not to be leading at the half way stage.
A Mossy Quinn point from a 45 put the Leinster champions ahead in the second minute.
A Collie Devlin point brought the Derry side level before Raymond Wilson put the Shamrocks in front shortly afterwards.
St Vincents were rewarded for their early dominance with two quick goals from Tomas Quinn and Ciaran Dorney to put them in command after 12 minutes.
Another Moss Quinn point put St Vinents six clear with 15 minutes gone.
However, Ballinderry pulled themselves together and reduced the deficit with points from Ryan Bell, James Conway and Connie Devlin after 23 minutes.
A Shane Carthy point in the 27th minute put four points between the side.
Points from Conleith Gilligan (free) and Collie Devlin brought the Derry champs to just two points behind going into added time.
Another Moss Quinn point restored the St VIncents lead to three before Ballinderry were unlucky not to draw level when, in the best move of the game, Colline Devlin saw his close range shot bounce off the bar and over for a point.
A Raymond Wilson brought ballinderry right back into the game with almost he last kick of the first half.
Half-time: Ballinderry 0-9 St Vincents 2-4
Ballinderry started the second half as they began the first, conceding early points to Gavin Burke and Mossy Quinn.
Ryan Bell’s second point of the game was followed by two points from Diarmuid Connolly and two Mossy Quinn frees put St Vincents back in command again on a scoreline of 2-10 to 0-10 with 15 minutes remaining.
A Ballinderry 45 and a Daniel McKinless shot from 20 yards which found the bottom corner of the net reduced the deficit to just two points after 48 minutes.
A Mossy Quinn free put a goal between the sides in the 55th minute on a scoreline of 2-11 to 1-11.
A Collie Devlin point was quickly answered by a Dorney point for St Vincents.
Another Ballinderry point raised the hopes of the Derry champions but they were soon dashed by scores from Connolly and yet another point from man-of-the-match Mossy Quinn.
Official attendance: 4,331.
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