Ballinderry (Derry) 0-11 Austin Stacks (Kerry) 0-7
Crossmolina Deel Rovers (Mayo) 1-12 Caragh (Kildare) 0-6
When Ballinderry won their All-Ireland club senior football title, back in 2002, they succeeded Crossmolina as champions.
Almost a quarter of a century on, the once powerhouse Derry and Mayo outfits will contest the All-Ireland club intermediate final at Croke Park next Sunday.
The manner of their semi-final wins contrasted though as Ballinderry needed to dig particularly deep to see off Austin Stacks, another former senior All-Ireland winning club, by 0-11 to 0-7 at Parnell Park.
With just two points on the board at half-time to Austin Stacks’ four, it looked like this could be the end of the line for an underperforming Ballinderry.
Their forward unit converted just two of eight scoring opportunities in the opening half as Stacks, even without Joe O’Connor, took control in a low-scoring arm wrestle.
Kerry midfielder O’Connor’s absence was certainly felt in the second-half as a rejuvenated Balliderry took control, reeling off five points in a row between the 41st and 48th minutes to open up a 0-7 to 0-5 lead.
Derry centre back Gareth McKinless was among their scorers during the third-quarter blitz and played in the ball for an advanced mark later on which was converted by Daniel McKinless, his second point having come on as a sub. In midfield Charlie Crozier struck two vital points from frees.
They will return to Dublin next Sunday for the final at Croke Park against a Crossmolina side that overcame Caragh of Kildare 1-12 to 0-6.
Mayo’s Conor Loftus struck the Cross goal from a first-half penalty while county colleague Jordan Flynn, who hit 0-3, impressed for the Deel Rovers side who also contested the 2003 senior final.
Loftus, who finished with 1-2, struck the net on a white and wintry pitch at Pearse Park after 14 minutes and Brian Benson’s side were in pole position from there on.
Cross were 1-4 to 0-4 to the good at half-time and kicked on strongly after the break as Caragh’s challenge wilted.
Fionnan Duffy, Jason Flynn and Patrick Leddy were all on the mark with Cross’ points after the break as the Mayo men surged nine points clear to see themselves to victory.
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