Harsh result for Eoghan Rua at Ballinderry

Colm McGoldrick top scored for Eoghan Rua. Mandatory Credit Photo Lorcan Doherty / Presseye.com

they led the Shamrocks most of the way and only conceded the second goal with the last play of the game in this Division 1 League game.

Playing with the aid of the downfield wind the visitors to Shamrock Park started very well racing into a three point lead by the 7th minute, Colm McGoldrick getting all three, two from frees.

Ballinderry came back with an Enda Muldoon point from a tight angle before Daniel McKinless added a second in the 11th minute. Eoghan Rua then enjoyed a good spell firing over four points in a row. Colm McGoldrick won a couple of frees, one of which he pointed himself while Gavan McWilliams pointed the other, then finished off two fine efforts from play to put Coleraine 0-7 to 0-2 ahead by the 23rd minute.

Coleraine increased their lead through a Gavan McWilliams point from a free going into the last five minutes but Ballinderry did show some resolve, Colin Devlin pointed to leave his side trailing by five, 0-8 to 0-3 at the break.

The tide turned to some extent in the opening period of the second half as Ballinderry reduced the deficit to a single points within two minutes of the restart.

Eoghan Rua responded well to that early setback as Ruari Mooney strode forward to point. It was all very tight over the next 15 minutes or so as the game got a little fractious. Balinderry were wayward with their shooting but they did get level ten minutes from the end as Enda Muldoon pointed and then Ryan O’Neill hit the leveller.

The home side hit two quick points from Daniel McKinless and Darren Lawn to go into the lead for the first time but Eoghan Rua were not done yet as Gavan McWilliams reduced the gap to one again. Daniel McKinless was causing most of the problems for the Eoghan Rua defence and he hit the next two to open a three point lead going into added time.

Eoghan Rua needed a goal to level matters and they almost got it but Glen McOscar made a fine save from Richard Carey. However Ballinderry hit back as the ball was quickly transferred forward and a second goal arrived win similar circumstances to the first as McKinless placed Dermot McGuckin to flick to the net.