Coalisland bow out of Ulster Club Championship

Sunday 14.11.2010

Club

Coalisland Fianna went out of the Ulster club championship in agonising fashion at Enniskillen today when the Tyrone champions lost to Glenties by a single point, 1-10 to 1-9, in a thrilling semi-final encounter at Brewster Park.

Coalisland, appearing in their first Ulster semi-final since 1989, had produced some superb football to overturn a five point deficit in the second half. Paddy McNeice (4), Stephen Curran, Peter McGahan, Dermot Thornton and goalkeeper Johnny Curran (two 45’s) , had scored nine points between them before Plunkett Kane’s brilliant goal propelled the Tyrone side into a 1-9 to 1-8 lead entering the closing stages.

With the momentum behind them, the prospects looked good for Damian O’Hagan’s O’Neill Cup winners but they failed to score again and the Donegal men, who had been the stronger outfit in the first half, raised their game again when it mattered and registered the last two points of a compelling second half to secure their place in the provincial final by the narrowest of margins.

Coalisland applied a huge amount of pressure in the final minutes in a bid to snatch a deserved draw but several late scoring opportunities went abegging and there was great disappointment among the Tyrone contingent when the final whistle was blown to confirm Glenties’ passage to the Ulster final where they will meet Crossmaglen, one-point winners over Burren in another epic semi-final tie.

Stephen McNally, Philip Toner and Peter Donnelly all had great games for the Fianna, while Dermot Molloy, Leo McCloone, Anthony Thompson and Dara Maguire were instrumental in sending Cathal Corey’s side through to their first provincial final, ensuring a first appearance for any Donegal team in the final since 1991.

Coalisland will now have to pick themselves up from this disappointment to focus on an All-County League title clash with Errigal Ciaran as they attempt to round off their memorable campaign with a league and championship double.