Disappointment for Eoghan Rua’s Under-21s

Eoghan Rua’s playing season was brought to an end with the defeat of their Under-21 footballers at the hands of Ballinderry.

Despite being down to 14 men after just twenty minutes of the first half, Ryan Bell was sent off on a straight red card for striking, Ballinderry went on to win comfortably enough 2-13 to 2-3.

Ballinderry opened up a three point lead by the eighth minute as Ryan Bell (2) and Gareth McKinless the scorers.

Eoghan Rua got their only score of the first half with a Ciaran Gaile point from a free as the Shamrocks went on to take a 0-8 to 0-1 half-time lead on the day.

Bell seen red in the 20th minute after a striking incident off the ball spotted by the linesman.

Early in the seond half Ballinderry cut through down the right side as Malachy Bell put Darragh McKinless in for what was a well taken goal by the player.

However Eoghan Rua came back well as they threatened an unlikely comeback with two goals in a five minute spell as they exerted some pressure.

Ruari Mooney and Ciaran Gaile combined for the latter to get through for a shot which was only parried out to Joseph McQuillan who stabbed to the net from close range.

After Ballinderry came back with a point Eoghan Rua struck for a second goal, Liam McGoldrick burst through the middle to off-load to Ruari Mooney who found the corner of the Shamrocks netleaving just four points between the sides, 2-2 to 1-9 twelve minutes into the second half.

At that stage it seemed like the Coleraine side might just make a real fight of this one but the hot favourites gradually took control of the contest with further points from Karl Quinn (2) and Darragh McKinless.

The Shamrocks finally sealed their final spot with a second goal in the 52nd minute as full back Dillon Fitzpatrick got forward to fire low to the corner of the Eoghan Rua net putting ten points between the sides at that stage in the game.

The sides exchanged late points but Ballinderry had sealed victory from a long way out. They went on to win the Under-21 Derry B Championship title by beating Foreglen in the final.

Eoghan Rua team and scorers: Aidan Loughrey; Joseph Lundy, Barry Daly; Brendan McKillop, Liam McGoldrick, Dermot Lynch; Ruari Mooney (1-0), Thomas Magee; Eoin McKillop (0-1), Stephen Coyles, Shea McLaughlin; Ciaran Gaile (0-2), Joseph McQuillan (1-0).

Substitutes: Conor Boyle for T Magee (8), Michael McQuillan for J McQuillan (55), Cillian Butler for A Loughrey (55).

Ballinderry: Ben McKinless; Dillon Fitzpatrick (1-1), Martin Bradley; Ryan O’Neill, Thomas Donnelly, Oisin Duffin; Ciaran Conway (0-1), Gareth McKinless (0-2); Malachy Bell, Darragh McKinless (1-3, 0-1 free), Dylan Wilkinson; Ryan Bell (0-2), Karl Quinn (0-4, 0-1 free).