Tyrone SFC Final

Trillick 1-13 Errigal Ciarán 0-13

By Francis Mooney at O'Neills Healy Park

Trillick ousted holders Errigal Ciaran in a gripping final that went all the way to extra-time at O’Neills Healy Park.

The newly crowned champions did all this without their spiritual leader Mattie Donnelly, whose season-ending injury three months ago ruled him out of the entire series.

But manager Jody Gormley re-crafted his forces and turned them into a team of winners, a formidable band of men who stood up to every challenge thrown at them by a star-studded Errigal side.

It’s now 18 years since any club has managed to retain the O’Neill Cup, not since Carrickmore complete back-to-back titles in 2005, and the curse has struck again.

Trillick arguably should have won this one in normal time, but a ferocious Errigal comeback saw them tie it up with three stoppage time points to draw level.

But with Rory Brennan and Richie Donnelly playing heroic roles, the Reds got the job done down the extra stretch.

Trillick’s defensive approach served them well in a highly tactical opening, as they broke at pace from their 15-man cover to pick off the points for a 0-3 to 0-1 lead in a low-scoring opening quarter.

James Garrity and Ciaran Daly hit the target, and while both defences were disciplined in their approach, avoiding the concession of scoreable frees, Lee Brennan’s famed left boot is capable of wonderful things, and he sent a 47 metre placed ball sailing between the posts.

Errigal pressed the Trillick kick-out, winning possession for Joe Oguz to power through for their only point of the opening 20 minutes, but two in the space of 30 seconds, from Mark Kavanagh and Cormac Quinn, brought them level.

However, the Reds had their match-ups spot-on, with Daniel Donnelly and Daire Gallagher keeping the Canavan brothers, Ruairi and Darragh, relatively quiet.

And with Rory Brennan a colossus at the heart of their defence, Trillick stood firm, and finished the first half with a massive boost.

James Garrity created the opening, and when Daley Tunney’s shot was half-blocked, Daly picked up the loose ball to send a low angled shot past ‘keeper Darragh McAnenly, sending his side in with a 1-5 to 0-3 interval lead.

O’Donnell stretched the gap to six, but Errigal, now with a slight breeze in their backs, began to dominate through Peter Harte and Joe Oguz, and the Canavan brothers, particularly Darragh, began to work their magic.

He sent over two delightful scores, with Ruairi converting a free, and defender Ciaran Quinn punched another, off the rebound after his shot had been saved by Joe Maguire, to narrow the gap to two at the end of the third quarter.

But just when it looked as if Trillick were fading out of the game, they struck back with a couple of vintage scores, the first a long range Richie Donnelly effort.

Ciaran Daly started and finished the next move, blocking Darragh Canavan’s shot before sprinting 100 yards to get on the end of O’Donnell’s pass for a classy finish.

But the champions’ kick-out press was a key in the closing stages, and they hit the last four points of the game, including stoppage time scores from Peter Harte and substitute Odhran Robinson to tie it up and send a thriller to extra-time, 1-8 to 0-11.

The O’Neill Cup holders hit the front for the first time through centre back Ciaran Quinn, but the lead lasted just 20 seconds, with Richie Donnelly levelling, as his side awaited the return of black-carded Damien Kelly.

Another long range special from Donnelly and a Garrity score gave the St Macartan’s a 1-11 to 0-12 lead at the turnaround, and Errigal suffered a double blow when Darragh Canavan and peter Harte were both forced off by injury.

Ryan Gray and Lee Brennan sealed a ninth title for Trillick as they closed the game out to dethrone the champions.

Errigal finished with 13 men as Padraig McGirr and Peter O’Hanlon both picked up second bookings.

Trillick: J Maguire; S O’Donnell, P McCaughey, D Tunney; S O’Donnell (0-02), R Brennan, D Gallagher; R Donnelly (0-3), L Gray; C Daly (1-2), N Donnelly, R Gray (0-1); D Donnelly, L Brennan (0-2, 2f), J Garrity (0-3).

Subs: C Garrity for R Gray (38), D Kelly for Tunney (56), R Gray for S Garrity (61), D McQuaid for N Donnelly (70), Tunney for S O’Donnell (79).

Errigal Ciaran: D McAnenly; Cormac Quinn (0-2), A McCrory, D Morrow; B McDonnell, Ciaran Quinn (0-1), P Og McCartan; P Harte (0-2), J Oguz (0-1); P O’Hanlon, T Canavan (0-1, f), M Kavanagh (0-2); P Traynor, D Canavan (0-2), R Canavan (0-1, f).

Subs: E Kelly for Morrow (39), B Horisk for Traynor (39), O Robinson (0-1) for O’Hanlon (53), M McCann for Kavanagh (58), O’Hanlon for T Canavan (69), P McGirr for D Canavan (73), Kavanagh for Harte (75).

Referee: C Forbes (Ardboe).