Connolly's of Moy Tyrone SFC round one
Trillick 0-13 Loughmacrory 0-13 (aet)
(Trillick win 4-3 on penalties)
TRILLICK squeezed through to the Tyrone SFC quarter-finals in a dramatic penalty shoot-out at O’Neills Healy Park on Friday evening, with goalkeeper Joe Maguire emerging as the hero with two spot-kick saves to deny Loughmacrory what would have been a shock victory.
It was Loughmacrory who shot late equalisers in normal and extra time, but when it came to the penalties, the pre-match favourites just had the edge.
The St Teresa’s eased into a two-point lead with early scores from Cathaoir Gallagher and Conall Grimes, who landed a fine long-range effort.
But the next five points came from Trillick, with Lee Brennan converting a couple of frees, before Loughmacrory lost Stephen Grimes to a black card in the 13th minute.
The Reds took advantage, with another Brennan free, along with scores from Ryan Gray and Ciaran Daly to open out a 0-5 to 0-2 lead.
In stoppage-time, Daly and Cathal Donagh traded points, as Trillick took a 0-6 to 0-3 lead into the interval.
Pauraic Meenagh came off the bench to give the St Teresa’s genuine finishing power, steering a couple of frees between the posts, before Eoin McElholm brought the sides level at the end of the third quarter.
But Trillick defended with vigour, with Rory Brennan and Seanie O’Donnell forcing turnovers, although they did have a let-off when Shane Grimes shot wide with a golden goal opportunity.
The Reds regained their composure for O’Donnell, Daly and Ryan Gray to ease them into a two-point lead late on.
But Loughmacrory pressed high, with full-back Nathan Kelly pushing forward, and won a free that Gallagher converted, before Meenagh shot a brilliant stoppage-time equaliser, tying it up at 0-10 each.
And they pushed into a two-point lead through Meenagh and Diarmuid Gallagher, before Rory Brennan fired over a point, Trillick turning around with a 0-12 to 0-11 deficit.
Again, Trillick eased ahead through James Garrity and Richie Donnelly, but Gallagher’s late free tied it up again at 0-13 each.
Then came the penalties, with Maguire rising to the occasion with two stops to send his side through to a last-four meeting with either Carrickmore or Edendork.
Trillick scorers C Daly 0-4, L Brennan 0-3 (3f), R Gray 0-2, J Garrity, R Donnelly, S O’Donnell, R Brennan 0-1 each.
Loughmacrory scorers P Meenagh 0-5 (3f), C Gallagher 0-3 (2f), E McElholm, C Donaghy, P Grimes, C Grimes, D Gallagher 0-1 each.
