Last year’s beaten finalists Errigal Ciaran were held to a draw in a drama-packed Connollys of Moy Tyrone SFC quarter-final at Dungannon tonight.
The relegation-threatened O’Rahilly’s grabbed a stoppage time equaliser through substitute Ryan Quinn to set up a replay next weekend.
A gripping encounter appeared to be going Errigal’s way, but the O’Rahilly’s refused to surrender as they threw everything into attack in the dying moments, clawing it back with two late scores.
Clonoe showed no fear of their star-studded opponents as they powered forward with men in support, opening up a three points lead through Connor McAliskey, with two, including a delightful sideline ball, and Danny McNulty.
With a defiant defensive effort, they held Errigal scoreless until the 15th minute when Peter Og McCartan found the range with the first of three quickfire points, with Peter arte and Odhran Robinson also on target.
Darragh Canavan edged the Dunmoyle men ahead, and un the 26th minute, sent Robinson in for a goal, netted from close range in a goalmouth scramble.
But within a minute, Clonoe had the ball in the net at the other end, former Tyrone attacker McAliskey scoring from a penalty after Declan McClure had been fouled.
McAliskey levelled it up, sending the sides in at 1-4 apiece, but Errigal grabbed a second goal. a Ruairi Canavan fere dropped short and Robinson was there again to flick the ball past Mickey O’Neill.
Again, Clonoe responded with a goal of their own, Darragh McGrath delivering long for Pascal McClure to punch home and tie the game up again.
Errigal went three up as Joe Oguz lifted his game to new heights at midfield, but needed a superb Darragh McAnenly save to deny Ronan Corey, with Danny McNulty converting the resultant ‘45 to keep Clonoe very much in touch.
Errigal pushed two clear through Padraig McGirr, but they were pegged back again as Darym Magee and Ryan Quinn both split the posts right at the death
Meanwhile, Trillick had to work hard to keep the defence of their Tyrone SFC title alive as they scaped through a tight contest with a couple of points to spare.
Mattie Donnelly’s first half goal was the difference in the end, but Ardboe will feel that could have had something to show for their gutsy effort.
The reward for the O’Neill Cup holders is a semi-final meeting with Dungannon, a repeat of the 2020 final, which the Clarke’s won in a penalty shoot-out.
Unlike the ties that have gone before, this one never caught fire, a tactical contest that had both teams keeping it tight at the back as a priority.
Ardboe’s strong start saw them go ahead through Shay McGuigan and David Mulgrew, but the holders had dan level with scores from Rory Brennan and Richie Donnelly when they struck for a 12th minute goal.
Richie Donnelly’s intercept inside his own 13 metre line launched the raid which saw James Garrity send Mattie Donnelly away to cut in from the left and rifle his shot past Conall Quinn.
The lough shore men rallied for a superb Mickey O’Neill point, and had a goal chance when a rebound off a post fell to Aidan Duffy a couple of yards out, but he fired his shot over the bar.
At the break, Trillick led by two, 1-4 to 0-5, and were forced to defend for much of the second half, sourcing their own chances from breakaway attacks.
Mulgrew’s brilliant equaliser had the game in the melting pot, but a run of scores, including two from defender Daire Gallagher, got the Reds back in front, and they protected a selnder lead to the finish.
But Ardboe were always in the hunt, superb long range scores from Cormac Devlin and Shea Quinn maintaining the pressure on the champions right to the end.
