THIS Ulster Club Minor Football final at Shaw’s Road looked over at half-time as Ballinderry led by 12 points to two, but Killeavy had other ideas.
The Armagh champions, despite having centre-back Paul Watters sent off just three minutes after the restart, threw everything into a magnificent comeback bid and might well have snatched the Jimmy McConville Cup had they been more accurate up front.
The losers fired ten shots wide in the second half as they camped in Ballinderry territory but the winners’ defence, with corner-back Vivian Bell outstanding, held firm on a number of occasions when a goal looked likely.
County ‘keeper Carmillus Quinn also brought off a super save from Ronan Allen.
Ballinderry did all the work required in the first half and once again Gerard Cassidy was the star of the show.
With eight points before the interval, he was stroking over free-kicks from all angles and distances. The No 11, who was awarded the Ann-Marie Donnelly Trophy as ‘man-of-the-match’, missed just once in that period.
The Derry champions ruled the midfield area, with brothers Ciaran and Niall McCusker outstanding. Ballinderry fought grimly for every ball and only on four occasions did Killeavy get a shot at goal in the first 30 minutes.
The winners’ defence was always alert, nipping in to break up anything that looked like danger.
With Stephen and Darren McGeehan and Conor and Ciaran McCusker all on target, Cassidy had six points in a row from free-kicks before Killeavy managed their first score in the 22nd minute through Evan Quigley. That left it 0-8 to 0-1. Cassidy
pointed again before Killeavy got their only other score of the half from a Stephen McDonnell free-kick – a long distance effort from the left wing.
Whatever was said to the Killeavy players during the break certainly worked.
Adrian Doran moved from full-forward to midfield and with Ronan Allen getting into the picture the Armagh side took a grip of the game.
They camped in Ballinderry’s half of the field for almost all of the second half and their defence became much tighter and more alert. The good work, however, was ruined by wayward shooting that cost Killeavy dear in the long run.
From all their splendid work they could manage only five points, while Ballinderry grabbed two in the 50th and 52nd minutes of what was a crisp game to match the conditions.
Final score: Ballinderry 0-14 Killeavy 0-7
Ballinderry: C Quinn; V Bell, P McIvor, S Mullan; D McKee (capt), D McNally, M Mullan (0-1); N McCusker, Conor McCusker (0-1); D Conway (0-1), G Cassidy (0-8), S McGeehan (0-1); N Conway, Ciaran McCusker (0-1), D McGeehan (0-1).
Sub: J Bell for N Conway (51).
Killeavy; B Marmion; L O’Hare, F Mallon, M Duffy; E Quigley (0-1), P Watters, M Quigley; C Hickey (0-1), J Reel (capt); S Allen, R Allen, S McDonnell (0-3); K McDonnell (0-1), A Doran (0-1), D Crilly.
Sub: J Maguire for S Allen (46).
Referee: G McClory (Antrim).
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MANCHESTER United were left spitting mad after seeing their festive charge brought to a halt by Aston Villa at Old Trafford.
Alex Ferguson’s men, searching for their fourth win of the Yuletide period, saw their hopes of leapfroging back over Arsenal and onto the heels of Premiership leaders Liverpool dashed as Brian Little’s midlands side plundered a point that also keeps them very much in the hunt.
And the hurt of seeing Villa continue their fine run against United they are now unbeaten in the last three meetings between the teams was compounded by an ugly first-half incident which saw visitors’ striker Savo Milosevic shower David Beckham with a mouthful of spit.
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YOUNG Cliftonville defender Paddy Gillian has been ruled of the remainder of the season after breaking a leg during Cliftonville’s youth league game against Ards at the weekend.
According to club officials the promising defender will be missed, and yesterday first team boss Marty Quinn sent his best wishes to the player.
“I want Paddy and his family to know that the players and staff at the club are thinking of him and we hope he has a speedy return,” said Quinn.
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KEVIN KEEGAN marvelled at another Alan Shearer show against Leeds and claimed: “He is the best in the world.”
Shearer sent Leeds spinning to a 3-0 defeat at St James’ Park with a double strike that took his season’s goal tally to 17.
And strike partner Les Ferdinand weighed in with his 14th of the season four minutes from time to wrap up victory.
Keegan then saluted his strikers, worth a combined £21 million, who have plundered seven goals between them against Tottenham, beaten 7-1 on Saturday, and Leeds.
Shearer sent Newcastle on their way with a 16th minute volley which Keegan claimed was par for the course from his £15 million world record signing.
“His first goal was typical of him,” said Keegan.
“It’s not a fluke. He doesn’t just do it in matches – he does it all the time in training.
“He’s simply the best in the world at what he does – that’s why I paid £15 million for him,” added Keegan.
