Naomh Conaill established an early lead over Clontibret O’Neills in their Ulster semi-final clash in Omagh on Saturday night and kept Clontibret at least a comfortable three points away over the remainder of the game. Leading by 0-6 to 0-1 after 20 minutes, they lost full back AJ Gallagher to a black card, which had a temporary dis-orienting impact but they soon regained their shape and always looked in control of their destiny.
Martin Regan and his mentors will be interested spectators at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh this afternoon when Fermanagh’s Derrygonnelly Harps take on Down champions Kilcoo to see who meet Naomh Conaill in the Ulster senior final on December 1st.
Last minute goal puts gloss on score-line as Buncrana miss out on Ulster Title
Buncranna 0-9 Blackhill Emeralds 1-11
It was heartbreak for Buncrana in Omagh at the Ulster Junior final last night after a promising start. Leading 0-8 to 0-5 at the break things looked good for the Inishowen men. Blackhill got the scoring underway after 2 minutes with a Paul Finnigan point but five unanswered points for Buncrana over the following 15 minutes – from Ryan Bradley, John Campbell Caolan McGonagle (45) William McLaughin and Aedan Stokes – put the Inishowen men in control. Tommy Geehan and and Hugh Byrne got Blackhill back on track but it was Buncrana who finished the first half stronger as Darrach O’Connor landed the last score of the half.
Blackhill came out a different animal in the second half with five points in a row including a couple of points each from Dermort Daly and Michael Geehan. Darrach O’Connor finally got Buncrana on the board in the second half to reduce the gap to 1 with 8 minutes remaining. Soon after, O’Connor had a goal chance which might have enabled Buncrana to push on but his shot was well saved by keeper Michael Shevlin. Crucially, the next score went to Blackhill’s Andrew Burns to give them a two point cushion going into the final few minutes. Buncrana pressed looking for a goal but deep into stoppage time the Monaghan champions sealed it with a Tommy Geehan goal in what turned out to be the last kick of the game.
A dis-appointing end to a great run of results for Bun Cranncha but the club can hold its head high after a great campaign and can look forward to a promising 2020 season. Congratulations to Blackhill and ádh mór in the All-Ireland series.
Buncranna: Sean Parker John Paul McKenna Aedan Stokes (0-1) Conor Grant William McLaughin (0-1) Bruce Waldron Odhran Doherty Mathew Mulholland Caolan McGonagle (0-1)(45) Oisin O Flaherty Darrach O Connor (0-2) Ryan Bradley (0-1) John Campbell (0-3)(2f) Adrian Doherty Subs Noel McLaughin for JP McKenna Ben Bradley for Odhran Doherty Ryan McElhinney for Oisin O Flaherty Oisin Doherty for W McLaughin
Blackhill Emeralds : Michael Shevlin Ryan Courtney Donald Courtney Thomas Courtney James Daly Shane Courtney Anthony Courtney Hugh Byrne (0-1)Dermort Daly (0-2)(2f) Phillip Donnely Geared McArdle Tommy Geehan(1-2) Paul Finnigan(0-2) Ciaran Courtney Michael Geehan (0-2) Subs Andrew Burns(0-2)for P Donnely B/C Stephen Courtney for G McArdle G McArdle for P Finnigan
Referee Kieran Eannetta (Tyrone)
By Sinéad Breen Donegal PRO Sun 17th Nov
