Preliminary Round Championship Wins For Pearses And Harps

Sunday 16.08.2026

Championship Football

Fintona Pearses and Stewartstown Harps are through to the first round proper of the Junior Championship following wins over Urney and Strabane at Killyclogher on Saturday afternoon. Fintona, fresh from winning the league title a few weeks ago, always looked to be in control while Stewartstown found themselves in a battle right up to the final seconds.

The Division Three champions began brightly with points from Aaron Mc Carney and a goal from the pacy Conor Mc Gillion. Conor Mc Daid responded for Urney but when Niall Murray made it 1-4 to 0-1 it seemed that Fintona were about to cut loose. However Anthony Crossan fired over and this was followed up with a fine individual score that saw Jake Lafferty burst through to fire to the net and leave two points between them.

Rather than fire up Urney that score seemed to ignite the favourites and from then until half time they added 1-5 to their tally. Mc Carney was proving very accurate from frees while Jared Brogan’s goal just before the half time whistle sent Fintona off the field in buoyant mood.

The second half saw Fintona pull away as their superior fitness told. Mc Carney, Conor Mc Gillion, Odhran Hughes and Peter Colton all hit points as the Pearses eased to victory. Urney had little to show for their efforts but the long distance shooting of Ryan Henry did help to keep them in the contest.

The game ended in a 2-22 to 1-14 win for Fintona.

The second part of the double header at Ballinamullen saw Stewartstown Harps take on Strabane with many people expecting this to be a handy win for the Harps. Obviously someone forgot to tell the Sigersons as the Strabane lads battled throughout with superb displays from Warner Mullen, Oran Mc Grath, Conal Crawford and Kyle Morrison keeping them in the contest right to the end.

The Harps opened up an early five point lead with scores from Mark Rooney, Michael Hughes and Kyran Robinson as the game seemed to be going to script. However when veteran Warner Mullen hit the net for Strabane’s opening score the Harps found themselves in a contest.

From then until the end the game was a real contest as both sides battled fought for every ball. The half time whistle saw Stewartstown four in front but Strabane were still very much in the game. Three minutes into the second half and Oran Mc Grath plundered a goal for Strabane to leave a point between the teams and the game in the melting pot. Points from Ruairi Dillon and Macauley Quinn had the Harps in front but a superbly struck penalty from Conal Crawford  made it a one point game with all to play for. Once more goalkeeper Dillon proved his worth with a well struck two pointer to take his side through to the first round proper.

Final score : Harps 1-16, Sigersons 3-6.