GAA - Ballinascreen left holding on against Rossa to book Ulster minor final spot

FONACAB ULSTER MFC SEMI-FINAL Ballinascreen 2-5 Rossa (Antrim) 0-8 TWO first-half goals from Euan McBride and Reece McSorley put Ballinascreen on their way to a New Year's Day meeting with Enniskillen Gaels in the final of the Ulster MFC Tournament in Belfast. In the end, ‘Screen were thankful for their whirlwind start.  The Derry champions will be concerned at only scoring a single point in the second-half, against a Rossa side that finished with just 13 players. EARLY GOAL 'Screen struck for goal in the first five minutes.  A long ball from Noel Rafferty found Reece McSorley who finished to the net. Points from McSorley, Emmett Duggan and the Logan brothers - Conal and Christopher had the Derry champions in cruise control - leading 1-4 to 0-0 after 20 minutes. Euan McBride added a second goal from the penalty spot before Rossa grabbed their first two scores of the game.  At the time it looked like a mere consolation - but in the end it was anything but. Half-time: Ballinascreen 2-4 Rossa 0-2 It was the Belfast side, playing just over the fence from their home pitch, who were quickest out of the blocks with four further points - cutting the gap to just four points with 10 minutes left to play. Rossa were then reduced to 14 players but still kept control as the game ticked towards a conclusion.  Eventually Emmett Duggan ended 'Screen's scoreless spell to open up a four point lead going into the last five minutes. Rossa then had a second player sent off in the closing stages but managed to cut the deficit to three points (2-5 to 0-8), however 'Screen did enough to hold on. The final will take place on New Year's Day at St Paul's GAC on the Shaw's Road.  Since the beginning of the competition, the trophy has come back to Derry on 15 occasions.  Kilrea were beaten by Burren in last year’s final.  More recently Glen dominated with their unprecedented four-in-a-row. BALLINASCREEN SCORERS: Reece McSorley (1-1), Euan McBride (1-0 pen), Emmett Duggan (0-2), Christopher Logan and Conal Logan (0-1 each). BALLINASCREEN SQUAD: Ryan Scullion, Damien McCoy, Aaron Bradley, Ronan McKenna, Ryan Doyle, Caoilte McAlinden, Conal Logan, Martin Bradley, Christopher Logan, Euan McBride Ciaran Doyle, Cathal Donnelly, Emmett Duggan, Noel Rafferty, Reece McSorley, Daniel McCullagh, Sean Thayaparan, Jon Paul Devlin, Daire Kelly, Rian Fullerton, Jack Heron, Mark Farrelly, Niall Doyle, Ruairi Kelly, Ronan Hamill, Callum White, Ruairi McBride, Ruairi O'Hagan.