Derry champions Ballinderry progressed to the semi-finals of the Ulster Club Football Championship yesterday with a hard- fought victory over Antrim kingpins St Gall's.

However, while the game was close, it was a bitterly disappointing game with very little fluent football played. Indeed, there seemed to be quite a few personal battles to be settled as both sides indulged in petty fouling which resulted in a stop-start encounter.

On the whole, however, the Derry champions just about deserved victory, although they had to survive a late onslaught before claiming victory.

Only two players scored for each side throughout the match, Conleth Gilligan and Gerard Cassidy scoring four points apiece for the winners, while Seβn Burns matched their efforts for St Gall's, whose other points came from the boot of Kieran McGourty.

With St Gall's pushing for the point that would take them into extra-time, Ballinderry caught them on the break when James Conway found Gilligan who fisted the insurance point.

BALLINDERRY: M Conlon; K McGuckin, N McCusker, S Mullan; P Wilson, R McGuckin, D Crozier; S Donnelly, E Muldoon; B McOscar, C Gilligan (0-4), D Conway; D Bateson, A McGuckin, G Cassidy (0-4). Subs: J Conway for Cassidy (49 mins); J Bell for Wilson (57)

ST GALL'S: P Murray; S Kennedy, G McCrarren, S Kelly; P McShane, P O'Connor, M Culbert; M McCrory, S Burns (0-4); T O'Neill, D O'Donnell, Kieran McGourty (0-2); C McCrossan, Kevin McGourty, E Ferguson. Subs: S McGouran for G McCrarren (32 mins); D O'Hare for Ferguson (35); C McCann for O'Donnell (43); C Gallagher for McShane (55); C Brady for McCrossan (60).

Referee: J McKee (Armagh).