BRILLIANT BALLYBAY FIRED UP FOR FINAL

COLM SHALVEY REPORTS

Ballybay are in their third county final in five years and one win short of bridging a tenyear gap after an impressive second-half surge took care of Clontibret in Clones on Sunday. Clontibret, who won by the narrowest of margins when the teams met in the group stage, led throughout the first half, but Ballybay outscored them by 1-10 to 0-2 from the 37th minute on, with a late goal from Dessie Ward sealing it at the end of a game that featured a series of nearmisses at both ends. Jerome Johnston’s side could afford to leave as many chances behind them as they scored and still rack up another sizeable tally that means they have 4-31 to their name from two knock-out games. Ward, Christopher McGuinness and Thomas Kerr hit a combined 1-12 for Ballybay, while Paul Finlay continues to pull the strings. Clontibret had the more efficient attack in the first half, during which they kicked just one wide, but their scores dried up as the game went on, meaning 0-6 from Conor McManus wouldn’t be enough …