GAA: Wins for Bellaghy and Ballinascreen in opening round of Ulster league

  This week, Derry club’s kicked their season into gear with the start of the UIster league. SENIOR Ballinascreen 2-16 Cootehill 3-11 This game was played in very windy conditions at the Peacelink complex in Clones.  A youthful ‘Screen, with a sprinkling of their minor winning team, came back from being down at half-time to snatch the win. A late palmed Emmett Duggan goal and long range points from Duggan sealed the win. Ballinascreen: Aaron Bradley (0-1 45), Aaron McBride, Donal Scullion, Aidan Kelly, Liam McAuley, Marty Bradley, Caoilte McAlinden (0-1), Colm Duggan, Sean Brunton, Ruairi McWilliams (0-1), Noel Rafferty (0-2), Cathal Donnelly (0-3), Sean Doyle (0-2), Conor McGovern (1-1), Anton Scullion (0-2). Subs: Emmett Duggan (1-2), Jack Heron (0-1). Bellaghy 0-17 Portglenone 1-8 Bellaghy played with a strong breeze in first half which they made use of scoring a couple of fine points from distance, to lead 0-12 to 0-5 at the break. Against the breeze in second half a young Bellaghy team kept possession well and took their chances when they came. Portglenone grabbed their goal in the last five minutes after some hesitation in the Bellaghy defence. Bellaghy: Benny Diamond, Peter Stuart (0-2, 1 ‘45’), Gerard O’Neill, Jack McErlean, Declan Cassidy (0-3), Declan Brown, Ryan Lee (0-1), Peter Cassidy, Ryan McNally, Chris McAfee (0-1), Eoghan Brown (0-2), Conor Quinn (0-1), Damon Gallagher (0-2), Ruairi McElwee (0-3, 2f) Sub: Chris Downey (0-1). INTERMEDIATE Foreglen 7-20 Sean Dolan’s 1-4 Foreglen began life under Damian O’Connor and Philip Muldoon with a comprehensive victory against Sean Dolan’s Both teams were missing a host of players, but it was the O’Brien’s who raced to a morale-boosting opening season win. Foreglen: Mark McCormick (4-1), Cahair O’Connor, Gavin McCormick (1-3 each), Kevin O’ Connor (0-5), Caolan O’Connor (0-4), Eunan McFeely (1-0), Jonny O’Dwyer, Liam O’Hara and Sean O’Connor (0-1 each). Sean Dolan's: Joe Gallagher (1-0), Ryan O’Donnell (0-2), Sean O’Donnell and Caolan McCosker (0-1 each). Faughanvale 0-11 Glenelly 1-3 Faughanvale got their Ulster league campaign off to a winning start on Wednesday night at home to Glenelly. The ‘Vale victory was never in doubt after going four points up and having a number of goal mouth scrambles before Glenelly registered their first score. Faughanvale led 0-7 to 0-1 at the break.  Playing against the wind in the second half, the Derry men played good possession football and were more clinical with their finishing. Faughanvale: Daryl Moore, Kyle McGuinness, Gordon Fahey, Sean Butcher, Mark Creane, Declan McGuinness, Brian Watson, Oisin Quinn, Aaron Cassidy, Liam McKeever (0-1), James Moore, Stephen King (0-1), Sean Bradley, Michael McLaughlin (0-1), Paddy O'Kane (0-8 , 5f) Elsewhere Ballymaguigan had a 1-10 to 1-9 win over Moneyglass at St Mary’s Magherafelt.  It was a first game for manager Paddy Downey against the team he led to Antrim intermediate glory earlier in his managerial career. Limavady went down 3-10 to 4-9 against Tyrone side Stewartstown in a high scoring encounter.  Banagher had a walkover after Glack didn’t field. THIS WEEK Sunday (12.00 unless stated) SENIOR Glenullin v Claudy (OFF) Kilrea v St Brigid’s Bellaghy v Cootehill Ballinascreen v Ramor United (Sun 12.30) Tir nA nÓg v Swatragh INTERMEDIATE Strabane v Foreglen (Fri 7.45) Sean Dolan’s v Owen Roes Ballymaguigan v Newtownstewart Greencastle v Limavady (Fri 8.00) Eglish v Doire Trasna Dungannon v Banagher (Fri 8.00)