The Ulster Intermediate Club Football Championship is beginning to come to the boil now that Down champions Ballymartin have booked their quarter-final place.

It was in a tense finish against Derry title-holders Ballymaguigan at Celtic Park yesterday that Ballymartin prevailed by the narrowest of margins (0-9 to 0-8) and it was former 1993 Derry All Ireland winning defender Gary Coleman, son of the late Oak Leaf boss Eamon Coleman, who endured particular heartbreak when his last-gasp free veered away from the posts to ensure his team’s exit.

Ballymartin, lively up front and resourceful at midfield, were cushioned by some fine finishing from Ryan O’Hare who landed three superb points.

In the Ulster Junior Club Football Championship, Down champions Glenn leaked rather too many goals against fired-up Donegal champions Moville at Letterkenny and eventually lost a lop-sided contest by 5-6 to 2-5, the Mourne side’s defensive shortcomings glaringly exposed on this occasion. Glenn beat Teconnaught in the Down decider last week but were unable to reproduce that form yesterday.

Meanwhile, Declan McKenna skippered Armagh Harps to a 0-11 to 0-9 victory over Killeavy in the county Minor final.