Played in windy conditions Naomh Fionnbarra played Stabannon Parnells in the Semi Final of the Division 2/3 League Play Off at John Markey Park, Ballygassan on Saturday evening.  The Stabannon men made light of their lower league status and had the brighter start.  They scored 2 of the first 3 points of the game with the Finbarrs point coming from a well struck Conor Osborne effort.  The Barrs then got a lucky break as Conor Osborne drilled a low shot to the back of the Stabannon net after there was confusion in their back line following a Bernard Osborne free.  Back came Stabannon and they scored the next 2 points to regain the lead.  Bernard Osborne replied for the Togher men, who were playing nervously, with a good point on the turn from the left.  Parnells replied with another point while Andy McCann finished the scoring for the half with a lovely point from the right wing.  Half time score:  Naomh Fionnbarra 1-3(6) Stabannon Parnells 0-6(6).

The Barrs made a good start to the second half and in fact tehy dominated the 3rd quarter of the game scoring 8 points without reply from a number of scorers and of high quality.  This haul included 3 good points from wing back Pádraig Butterly from the left wing as he drove forward from the Barrs back line.  Bernard Osborne tacked on 2 points, 1 from a free and 1 from play while Pádraic Murphy made sure all of the full forward line got on the scoresheet with a nice point with his right boot after a good turnover in the Stabannon defence.  Óisín McGee got in on the act with a very good point from the right wing while Conor Osborne added a good point to his first half tally.  The Finbarrs were dominant in midfield in this period and the defence had little to do but remained solid.  

At this stage it looked ominous for the Stabannon men, but they eventually got off the mark in the second half with a point.  This left the score at 1-11 to 0-7 with about 15 minutes remaining.  The game began to get scrappy as Stabannon got on top and Darren McConnon received his marching orders after receiving a second yellow card.  Parnells then broke through the Togher back line and one of their forwards was dragge.d down.  The referee immediately blew for a penalty which was dispatched top the back of the Finbarrs net.  With the deficit reduced to 4 Stabannon could see a chink of light at the end of the tunnel and the Barrs became slightly nervous.  Patrick McGrane received a black card during this period also.  The Togher men squandered a couple of good scoring chances, however Bernard Osborne finally lifted the siege with a well taken free from 21m.  Naomh Fionnbarra lived to fight another day and are through to the Division 2/3 League Play Off Final v Roche Emmets in a repeat of last years Junior Championship Final.  Final score:  Naomh Fionnbarra 1-12(15) Stabannon Parnells 1-7(10).

Naomh Fionnbarra scorers:  Conor Osborne 1-2, Bernard Osborne 0-4(2f), Pádraig Butterly 0-3, Óisín McGee 0-1, Andy McCann 0-1, and Pádraic Murphy 0-1.

Naomh Fionnbarra Team:  Daithi Woods, Hugh McGrane, Patrick McGrane, Brendan Simms; Bryan Sharkey, Colin McGrane, Pádraig Butterly; Hugh Osborne, Darren McConnon; Máirtín Murphy, Óisín McGee, Conor Osborne; Pádraic Murphy, Andy McCann, Bernard Osborne.  Subs:  Jack Butterly for Pádraic Murphy, Nicholas Butterly for Patrick McGrane(BC).

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