Nh Fionnbarra and Roche Emmets will renew rivalries when they meet to decide who will play Division 2 football next year after both came through their semi-finals over the weekend.

The sides met in last year's Junior Championship Final when the Finbarrs came out on top and they are set to meet again in another crunch game.

The Finbarrs, who will be hoping to stay in the second tier, booked their place in the decider by scoring a 1-12 to 1-7 win over Stabannon Parnells at Ballygassan on Saturday night.

It was the Parnells who started the better as Shane Sweeney openied the scoring with a point from an acute angle and two points from Aonghus Giggins to lead by two after the opening 15 minutes. However they were stopped in their tracks when Conor Osborne found the back o the net for the home side.

The Barrs were unable to build on that score and Stabannon responded to tie the game up at 1-3 to 0-6 at half time.

The home side took control of the game in the third quarter with eight unanswered points, including efforts from Padraic Murphy, Padraig Butterly and Bernard Osborne to see their side lead by 1-11 to 0-7.

Stabannon gave themselves hope with a goal from a Niall Cluskey penalty, but the Finbarrs held out for a place in the final.

Meanwhile Roche Emmets recovered from their Junior Championship disappointment when they recorded a 1-14 to 0-7 win over St Kevins.

The Faughart side, who are aiming to return to Division 2, were always in control against the Philipstown men and deservedly booked their place in the play-off final.

Roche were quickest out of the blocks and had six points on the board before the Kevins got off the mark. However, the home side ensured that was not the start of a revival as they fired over the last three points of the half to lead by 0-9 to 0-1 at the break.

The Kevins did come out fighting in the second half and threatened a comeback as they landed four unanswered points to cut the gap to four.

However, Roche steadied the ship in the last quarter before a late goal from Evin Quigley settled the issue.

Tweet

Most Read Stories