Fintona Lose Out In Ulster Series

Saturday 18.11.2023

Championship Football

Fintona’s run in the Ulster Club came to an abrupt end on Saturday afternoon when they lost out to a  very fit and well drilled Blackhill Emeralds side at Kingspan Breffni Park . Winning the toss the Monaghan champions opted to play into the breeze in the first half and such was their control that they reached the break leading 1-4 to 0-3 with man of the match Phillip Donnelly proving a real handful at full forward.

It took Fintona sixteen minutes to get their first wind assisted point. Unfortunately by that stage Blackhill were 1-2 to no score ahead with points from Darren Mc Elroy and Hugh Byrne and a goal from Philip Donnelly. A converted free from Aaron Mc Carney midway through the first half finally broke the Fintona duck  and although Mc Carney added two further points before the short whistle Blackhill reached the break four clear with a point from wing back James Daly,

Fintona needed the opening score of the second half as they sought to reduce the gap but Blackhill centre forward Darren Mc Elroy fired over from distance five minutes into the second half. Two minutes later they effectively put the game beyond their opponents as Donnelly plundered a second goal after his initial shot had been blocked by the Fintona defence.

With their half back line very much on top and controlling the game the Emeralds coasted to victory. Fintona did add five second half points with Conor Mc Gillion and Caolan Donnelly on target but Blackhill were not to be denied and they ran out convincing 2-10 to 0-7 winners,