MALONE summoned all their traditional qualities of heart and fire to overcome the gritty challenge of City of Derry 28-14, in Saturday's First Trust Ulster Senior Cup semi-final at Ravenhill.
Colm Wilkinson gave Malone early encouragement with a dropped goal and a penalty within the first ten minutes, then Maurice Field galloped in for a try under the posts. Almost immediately, Denis McBride took the final pass in a counter-thrust and went over. Derry made a breakthrough with an Ian McGregor penalty in the 23rd minute and Stephen Lindsay gave them hope when sped in for a try eight minutes later. But just before halftime the ever dangerous Wilkinson joined the line to touch down. McGregor kicked two penal ties for Derry, but after Wilkinson thumped over a penalty with eight minutes remaining, it was over and out.
Meanwhile, Dungannon simply coasted through to the final with a nine try blitz (56-3), at the expense of hapless Collegians.
Roger Cowan scampered over for two first half tries after Ross Collins had hoisted Collegians into an early lead and with Jeremy Hastings also grabbing a try, the Deramore side were under the cosh, with the game still in its infancy. With Ashley Blair contributing a penalty before Johns crossed for a try which Blair converted, Dungannon led 25-3 at the interval.
Patterson then smashed his way over for a try which Blair converted, McGaughey snapped up the next try, with Blair adding the points before converting another score from Blewitt. And even though they eased up, Duagannon managed to engineer two further tries through Cowan and Assaf.
