Reigning Ulster Club Football Champions Bellaghy were dethroned at a packed Watty Graham Park, in Glen, yesterday by a Ballinderry team which had suffered defeat in the last two deciders.
A goal from former Derry county star Declan Bateson with 10 minutes remaining was the vital score as the Shamrocks held on to claim the title.
BELLAGHY: C Donnelly; P Downey, C Diamond, D O'Neill; C McNally (0-1), K Diamond (0-1), K Doherty; F Doherty, J P McErlean; Paul Diamond, G Doherty (0-1), F Glackin (0-1); G Diamond (0-5), C Scullion, J Cassidy (0-2) Subs. L McPeake for Scullion, J Mulholland for McErlean, Peter Diamond for Downey, E Cassidy for Paul Diamond.
BALLINDERRY: M Conlon; K McGuckin, N McCusker, S Mulholland; P Wilson, R McGuckin, D Crozier; E Muldoon (0-1), R Bell; C Gilligan (0-2), S Donnelly, D Conway (0-1); D Bateson (1-0), A McGuckin, G Cassidy (0-5) Subs. J Conway for Bell, J Bell for Mullan, B McOscar for Conway, M Harney for Conway, D McGeehan for Bateson (59 mins)
Referee - D O'Connor (Dungiven).
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