GAA: Bellaghy blow Dunloy away in final quarter to setup a quarter-final meeting with Inniskeen
With 1-9 in the final quarter, Bellaghy romped home against Dunloy in Sunday's preliminary round game at St Paul's.
It was the club's first time in the Ulster championship since winning their second title in 1994/95.
Their squandered tally of 2-9 in the first half highlighted the rustiness since their county final win over Lavey.
Eoghan McGrath opened the scoring for Dunloy but Lorcan Spier - who finished with 0-9 to his name - soon had the sides level.
Captain Paul Cassidy and Conleth McShane added points but Bellaghy went 14 minutes without scoring.
With five minutes to the break Seaan Elliott got the Antrim side back into the game.
Goalkeeper Daire McErlean saved Elliott's penalty, but the Dunloy man was quickest to the rebound, making the score 0-5 to 1-1.
The Tones led by two at half-time with Callum Scullion scoring within 16 seconds of the restart for Dunloy.
Bellaghy totally controlled the midfield sector and began to get to the pitch of the game.
Kealan Friel, Spier and Cassidy were all on target as the Derry champions pulled away.
In the 55th minute, Spier and Ronan Lee were involved in the buildup, teeing up Friel for a fisted goal from close range.
Bellaghy play Monaghan champions Inniskeen next Sunday, December 16, in the quarter final.
MATCH STATS:
Bellaghy: Daire McErlean, Ronan McFaul, Cormac McLarnon, James Diamond, Peter McErlean, Conan Milne, Odhran Lee, Conleth McShane (0-1), Kealan Friel (1-3, 1f), Oisin McErlean, Lorcan Spier (0-9, 3f), Lee Brady, Charlie Diamond, Paul Cassidy (0-3), Ronan Lee (0-1). Subs: Oisin McClafferty for C Diamond (40), Sean Turner (0-1f) for R Lee (56), Max Stuart for L Spier (56), Eoghan Lee for C Milne (60).
Dunloy: Padraig McGilligan, Oisin McErlane, Paddy Kinsella, Cathair McCloskey, Anton McGrath, Aaron Crawford, Ciaran McQuillan, Callum Scullion (0-1), Ryan McFarland, Daithi McGuigan, Rory Mullan, Eoin McMullan, Eoghan McGrath (0-1), Anthony Smith (0-2f), Seaan Elliott (1-0). Subs: John Dixon for O McErlane (HT), Sean O’Neill for R Mullan (38), Conal Kelly for C Scullion (56).
Ref: Gavin Corrigan (Down).
Full coverage, photos and interviews in Tuesday's County Derry Post.