Ulster club SFC: McIver goal edges Ballinderry into semis

October 31, 2011

Ballinderry's Raymond Wilkinson and Dromore's Hugh McNulty
Ballinderry (Derry) 1-11
Dromore (Tyrone) 0-12

An early goal from Michael McIver proved crucial as Ballinderry moved into the semi-finals of the Ulster club senior football championship at Dromore's expense yesterday.

Played at Healy Park in Omagh, the home side were stunned when McIver journeyed forward from wing-back and fisted home the game's only goal after just 32 seconds which rocked the Tyrone champions, whom were managed by his brother, Paul.

Dromore put together a decent response which saw Eoin McCusker, Niall Sludden and Paddy Montague slip over scores, but the singles of Enda Muldoon and Conleth Gilligan saw the Derry men head in with a 1-6 to 0-7 lead at the break.

Gilligan's lethal accuracy saw Ballinderry maintain their lead throughout the second-half, as McCusker threatened to put Dromore in front, but they came up just short after both sides had been reduced to 14 men following the dismissals of Martin Harney and Dromore substitute Adrian McCaffrey.

Ballinderry: M Conlon; D Bell, K McGuckin, C Wilkinson; M McIver (1-0), D Conway, R Scott (0-1); K McGuckin, M Harney; A Devlin (0-2), C Nevin, R Wilkinson (0-1); C Gilligan (0-6, 0-3 frees), E Muldoon (0-1), R Bell. Subs: C Devlin for Bell, M Bell for Nevin.

Dromore: P Ward; F O'Neill, C McCarron, R McMenamin; C O'Hara, S O'Neill, K Donnelly; H McNulty, P Montague (0-4, 0-2 frees); R McNabb, E McCusker (0-7, 0-4 frees), N Sludden (0-1); S McDonnell, E O'Neill, C McCullagh. Subs: C O'Neill for Donnelly, F Quinn for F O'Neill, S McNabb for E O'Neill, A McCaffrey for Montague.

Referee: M Higgins (Fermanagh).

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