TYRONE SFC: Coalisland into senior decider after defeating Clonoe

Clonoe's Dan McNulty gets his shot away despite pressure from Coalisland duo Niall Kerr and Padraig Hampsey.

Coalisland are through to the Senior Championship Final after a fine display saw them emerge seven point winners over old rivals Clonoe in their replay at O’Neill Park on Sunday afternoon.

Clonoe kicked 10 wides while the winners only registered two and, on the day, the Fianna deserved their success to send them through to the decider this Sunday afternoon when they will face last season’s beaten finalists, Killyclogher.

Coalisland were out of the traps quickly with Stephen McNally splitting the posts in the first attack before Dermot Thornton got the first of his four points after three minutes.

Coalisland's Philip Toner fails to block Declan McClure's shot for Clonoe.

Clonoe midfielder Declan McClure then took a pass from Connor McAliskey to get his side up and running after six minutes but they were never able to get on level terms.

Cormac O’Hagan and Thornton both added to Coalisland’s lead before corner back Michael McKernan made it 0-5 to 0-1 after a surging 50m run.

A few missed chances left Clonoe struggling but McAliskey got them a much needed score with a brilliant effort from a tight angle. Plunkett Kane restored Coalisland’s four point advantage but it was Clonoe who finished the first half on top with injury time points from a Danny McNulty free and Paul Coney from play.

Three minutes into the second half McNulty knocked over another placed ball to reduce the deficit to the minimum but that was as good as it got for the O’Rahillys. Half forward Philip Toner and McNally both weighed in with quality scores before the former found the range again to leave four points between the sides going into the final quarter.

Coney landed a superb effort for Clonoe to keep them in touch but Coalisland weren’t to be denied this time. Thornton knocked over a free and when substitute Cathaoir Quinn weighed in with a brilliant effort with his first touch since his introduction the writing was on the wall for Clonoe.

This was Clonoe’s fifth game in as many weeks and while they left it late in other games, having to go to the well so many times was beginning to take its toll.

McNulty converted another free but the superb Padraig Hampsey cancelled that score out with a sublime effort from out on the left wing. McKernan blasted over another point with substitute Niall Fox also on target with Clonoe’s only response coming from PJ Lavery as the Fianna qualified for their first senior final since 2010.

Coalisland: Johnny Curran, Shane Hughes, Louis O’Neill, Michael McKernan, Jason Carberry, Niall Kerr, Dan Fee, Padraig Hampsey, Plunkett Kane, Philip Toner, Cormac O’Hagan, Stephen McNally, Brian Toner, Peter Donnelly, Dermot Thornton. Subs – Cathaoir Quinn for O’Hagan, Peter McGahan for Carberry, Sean Corr for Thornton, Niall Fox for Corr (black card), Gerard Toner for Kerr, Conor Bayne for Hughes

Scorers – Dermot Thornton 0-4, Michael McKernan 0-2, Philip Toner 0-2, Stephen McNally 0-2, Padraig Hampsey 0-1, Plunkett Kane 0-1, Cormac O’Hagan 0-1, Cathaoir Quinn 0-1, Niall Fox 0-1.

Clonoe: Mickey O’Neill, Jerome McClure, Aidan Brady, Ciaran O’Neill, PJ Lavery, Dwayne Quinn, Rhys Quinn, Conor Hughes, Declan McClure, Patrick Doris, Shane O’Hagan, Paul Coney, Daryl Magee, Danny McNulty, Connor McAliskey. Subs – Gary Coney for Rhys Quinn, Aaron Elliot for Magee, Fintan McClure for Hughes (black card).

Scorers: Danny McNulty 0-3, Paul Coney 0-2, PJ Lavery 0-1, Declan McClure 0-1, Connor McAliskey 0-1

Referee: Fergal Ward (Errigal Ciaran).