Pearses Into Last Four

Sunday 05.11.2023

Championship Football

Fintona booked their place in the last four of the Ulster Junior championship when they defeated Down champions Drumaness 0-11 to 0-7 at Healy Park in a contest that never rose to any great heights.

It was the visitors who made the better start with a point from full forward Tommy McConville in the first attack followed by one from a Gary Murdock free in the 4^th minute. An Aaron McCarney free got Fintona up and running in the 10^th minute and they were soon level when Conor McGillion split the posts. Paul Gilchrist and McCarney then swapped points before a fine score from midfielder Peter McGlinn gave Fintona the lead for the first time. It was an advantage that they were never to lose with a McCarney free leaving it 0-5 to 0-3 at halftime.

Oran Crew reduced the deficit on the restart but that was as close as Drumaness were to get in the remainder of the game. McGillion from play coupled with a McCarney free opened the gap to four but the Down men were proving difficult to put away. Substitute Callum Dougan pointed with Captain Murdock converting another placed ball to set up a nervous finish. Fintona didn’t panic though as McCarney took his personal haul to 0-6 with a free and one from play with substitute Tommy McGrath also on target as they set up a last four meeting with Monaghan champions Blackhill.