The Barrs see off Parnells to book their place in final

NAOMH FIONNBARRA 1-12 STABANNON PARNELLS 1-7

NAOMH Fionnbarra set up a Division 2/3 League Final play-off against Roche after a well-earned victory at John Markey Park, Ballygassan, on Saturday evening.

The Stabannon men made light of their lower league status and had the brighter start, scoring two of the first three 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 confusion in their back line following a Bernard Osborne free.

Back came Stabannon and they scored the next two 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 to leave it level at the break - 1-3 to 0-6.

The Barrs made a good start to the second half and in fact they dominated the third quarter of the game, scoring eight points without reply.

This haul included three good points by Pádraig Butterly from the left wing as he drove forward from the Barrs back line.

Bernard Osborne tagged on a couple, 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 and Conor Osborne added a good point to his first-half tally.

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 dragged down. The referee immediately blew for a penalty which was dispatched to the back of the Finbarrs net by Niall Cluskey.

With the deficit reduced to four, Stabannon could see a chink of light at the end of the tunnel and the Barrs became slightly nervous. The Togher men squandered a couple of good scoring chances, but Bernard Osborne finally lifted the siege with a well taken free from 21 metres.

In the end they lived to fight another day and are through to the Division 2/3 League Play-Off Final against Roche Emmets in a repeat of last year’s Junior Championship Final.