Ballinderry 2-10 Nemo Rangers 0-9
Ballinderry Shamrocks - who produced some blinding football in bog-like conditions during their semi-final win over Rathnew - lit up Semple Stadium today with a deserved victory over favourites Nemo Rangers in the All-Ireland club football final.
The Ulster champions were appearing in their first All-Ireland final and thrilled the travelling supporters from the small Northen parish by weathering a late Nemo storm to hold out in fine style.
Ballinderry started well and settled into the pace of the game after Enda Muldoon's fourth minute opener. Their lead was soon wiped out, however, as prolific Nemo full forward Colm Corkerey slotted over a brace of points.
Nemo were now starting to motor but Ballinderry had by no means dropped the reigns. In fact, they made a timely breakthough. Nemo 'keeper Don Heapy and defender Sean O’Brien both contested a dropping ball but fumbled their clearance and allowed Declan Bateson in to score the first goal.
Nemo - the Cork and Munster champions - kept in touch, however, and only trailed by a single point at the break on a scoreline of 1-3 to 0-5.
Ballinderry upped their game at the restart and hit four unanswered points to open a commanding lead. Ger Cassidy (scored two), Barry McCusker and Bateson supplied that ammunition.
Down but not out, Nemo - who had Colm Corkerey man marked out of the game - deserve credit for the way they fought back. JP O'Neill, Garry Murphy, Corkerey and second half substitute Stephen Callanan rattled over scores to keep Billy Morgan's team in the hunt for their seventh All-Ireland title. Nemo trailed by a point at this stage.
With the game heading for a thrilling final few minutes it was tragic complaceny within the Nemo defence that gifted the title to their opponents. Defender Garry Murphy delayed clearing the ball and was dispossessed leaving Ballinderry two-on-one against Heapy in the Nemo net. Adrian McGuckian rounded Heapy before laying the ball off to Ger Cassidy for a simple finish.
Cassidy added a further two points before Darren Conway's point finished off a dejected Nemo Rangers.
Nemo Rangers:D. Heapy; L. Kavanagh, N. Geary, Sean O'Brien; G. Murphy (0-1), Stephen O'Brien, M. Cronin; K. Cahill, D. Kavanagh (0-1); D. Meighan, JP O'Neill (0-1), M. McCarthy; J. Kavanagh (0-1), C. Corkerey (0-4), A. Cronin. Substitutes: S. Callanan (0-1) for D Meighan.
Ballinderry:M. Conlan; K. McGuckin, N. McCusker, J. Bell; P. Wilson, R. McGuckin, D. Crozier; S. Donnelly, E. Muldoon (0-1); B. McCusker (0-1), C. Gilligan (0-1), D. Conway (0-2); D. Bateson (1-1), A. McGuckin, G. Cassidy (1-4). Substitutes: M Harney for B. McCusker.