OLIVER PLUNKETTS 1-10
NH FIONNBARRA 2-5

Substitute Emmet Kelleher was the hero as Oliver Plunketts booked their place in the Junior Championship Final as they recovered from a below par first half before edging past Nh Fionnbarra at Stabannon on Sunday evening.

The Drogheda men left it late before clinching a meeting with Glen Emmets as two points in injury time from Kelleher saw them avenge their one point defeat to the Ballygassan men at the same stage last year.

The opening quarter was a cagey affair with the teams level at one point apiece at the end of the first quarter as Frank Daly's opening point was cancelled out by a William Woods free.

However, the Finbarrs then took a grip of the game and went 1-3 to 0-1 ahead thanks to a goal from Jack Butterly and two further points from Woods.

The Drogheda men then got a much-needed lifeline when Cian Matthews got in behind the defence before finding the back of the net. The last two points of the half were shared to see the Barrs go in with a 1-4 to 1-2 advantage

The Plunketts raised their game in the second half and were rewarded with four unanswered points to take at 1-6 to 1-4 lead.

However, just when it looked as if they would push on, the Finbarrs hit back when Butterly scored his second of the game to put his side one point ahead.

With five minutes remaining, the teams were level and in the 29th minute Dean Carolan fisted over to make it 1-8 to 2-4 but it looked as if the game was heading for a replay when Woods fired over the equaliser.
However, the Plunketts weren't going to let the opportunity slip from their grasp and late scores from Kelleher sent them through to the final.

OLIVER PLUNKETTS: Colm Duffy; Cillian Matthews, David McTeggart, Mickey McDonald; Frank Daly 0-1, Sean Brassil, Gary Keogh; Robbie Brodigan, Conor Early; Adam Brodigan 0-1, Frank Taaffe 0-1, Stephen Keeley; Cian Matthews 1-1, Dean Carolan 0-2, Brian Fitzpatrick 0-1. Sub: Emmet Kelleher 0-3 for F Taaffe.

NH FIONNBARRA: Allan Matthews; Conor Lenehin, Colin McGrane, Kieran Lenihan; Hugh McGrane, Oisin McGee, Bryan Sharkey; Darren McConnon, John Doyle; Stuart Osborne, Padraig Butterly, Conor Osborne; Jack Butterly 2-0, William Woods 0-5, Larry McEntee Ryan. Sub: Bernard Osborne.

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