CONOR McCreesh has rediscovered the form that inspired Rock to an Ulster Club JFC title two years ago.
On Sunday, he was back to his brilliant best, combining the roles of playmaker and finisher as the Tyrone champions qualified for a third provincial final with a two-point win over Newtownbutler.
Captain Tommy Bloomer reckoned McCreesh was unplayable, a joy to watch as he set up score after score for strike partner Aidan McGarrity, who finished with a 1-7 haul in Clones.
“Conor had an exceptional game, he was the difference,” said Bloomer.
“They actually doubled up on him, but he won every ball that went in to him. If he didn’t score, he contributed to another score.”
McCreesh was somewhat subdued in the Tyrone championship this season, but once the club got back on the provincial trail, he began to turn on the style once again.
“Whatever there is about the Ulster Championship, Conor loves it and he revels in it,” said Bloomer.
“Our team is all about going direct, and every time we put it in to Conor, he wins the ball, and he lays it off, he brings other players into the game.
“Conor will be the first to tell you that he hasn’t been at his best all year, but he has come back to top form this past couple of games and he’s at the top of his game.”
Top scorer McGarrity forms a potent inside line with McCreesh, and their skipper is hoping they have the firepower to lead the club to a third Ulster junior title.
“Everybody knows that we play two men up front, Aidan McGarrity and Conor McCreesh,” he said.
“And if the ball is put in to those two boys, they’ll win it and something will come off it.
“They’re two exceptional forwards and whenever the right ball goes in to them, damage is done.”
This Rock team is back-boned by a clutch of seasoned campaigners, including 34-year-old skipper Bloomer, who won provincial medals in 2007 and 2014, but young emerging stars are becoming increasingly influential.
“We have a lot of experienced players and that stands to us, and to be fair, there’s a lot of young boys that have come in this year and are playing very well for us,” he said.
“Then you have the unsung heroes like Ryan Crilly, Cathal McWilliams, Stephen Mullan, who has come home from Australia, there’s Niall Mullan at full-back. Those boys are really big players for us.”
Bloomer expects a tough contest in the final against Monaghan champions Blackhill later this month.
“The Monaghan teams are always strong, especially in junior, but we have played in two Ulster championship finals and won them, so they’ll have to be wary of us.”
In his 17th season as a Rock senior footballer, Bloomer is humbled by the honour of leading the team out for an Ulster final in the club’s centenary year.
“To be leading a team out for a championship final, never mind in a centenary year, is a great honour,” he said.
“We all know what’s ahead of us and we have to put in the performance to win the game, regardless of what year it is.”
