Devlin and Bell power Ballinderry through
The Derry side were more clinical in front of goal in the first period, with all six of their starting forward among the eight different players registering on the scoreboard. They led -8 to 0-4 at the interval, with the second quarter of the game played in a torrential downpour.
The Derry champions started the brighter and were 0-3 to 0-0 ahead before Clonoe knew they were in a game. The Tyrone men fought back but struggled to narrow the gap due to wastefulness in front of goal.
That sluggish start was to prove costly for Damian Cassidy’s team as they pressed in the second half, but were unable to close the gap to less than two points.
Ballinderry, aided by a brilliant performance from Aaron Devlin and a couple of terrific scores from Ryan Bell, were able to hold them at arm’s length and get over the line and into a quarter-final with Scotstown.
Scorers for Ballinderry: R Bell (0-4, 0-1f), C Devlin (0-1f), C Gilligan, A Devlin (0-2 each), C Nevin, D Lawn, D McKinless, D McGuckin (0-1 each).
Scorers for Clonoe: D McNulty (0-4, 0-3f), C McAliskey (0-3f), PJ Lavery (0-2), Ryan T O’Neill (0-1).
BALLINDERRY: M Conlan; R Scott, C Nevin, M McIver; R Wilson, G McKinless, D Lawn; K McGuckin, J Conway; D McKinless, A Devlin, D McGuckin; C Devlin, R Bell, C Gilligan.
Subs: E Muldoon for Lawn (37), D Conway for D McKinless (56), M Harney for Wilson (60), K ‘Moss’ McGuckin for J Conway (61).
CLONOE: M O’Neill; D Quinn, A Brady, C O’Neill; J McClure, S McCann, PJ Lavery; S McNulty, S O’Hagan; Ryan T O’Neill, C Doris, P Doris; P Coney, D McNulty, C McAliskey.
Subs: G Coney for S McCann (13), Ryan R O’Neill for P Doiris (38), D McClure for McAliskey (51), S Hughes for P Coney (58).
Referee: M Higgins (Fermanagh).
