CARRICKMORE have delivered a timely reminder that they can never be discounted as Championship contenders.
The stand-out performance of the weekend’s LCC Group Tyrone SFC ties saw them lay on an attacking master-class in a ruthless demolition of Derrylaughan’s challenge.
New manager Ryan Daly has embarked on a bold strategy based on positivity and attacking dynamism, and it paid off handsomely as they hit 24 quality scores which carried them to a 14 points victory at Plunkett Park.
“It was a good scoring return. We knew were up against a strong outfit in Derrylaughan, and for us it was just about getting over the line,” said Daly.
“So we’re happy to be into the next round, but it’s one step at a time.”
The new boss has gone for a well balanced mix, introducing exciting young talent to the squad while retaining the vital experience and quality of All-Ireland winning trio Conor Gormley, Mark Donnelly and Martin Penrose, along with skipper Barry Daly.
A potent inside line of attack accounted for 1-15 of the 2-22 total on Saturday, with Daly and younger brother Ciaran sharing 10 points, while Penrose hit 1-5.
Conor Gormley missed the clash with Derrylaughan due to injury, but he is set to return for the quarter-final against Edendork, and the former Tyrone defender remains a key part of the Carmen set-up.
“Everybody knows that it’s a building process with us at the minute. We had six U21s in our squad and we were without a big leader in Conor Gormley,” Daly added.
“The lads are fighting hard at training, and we’re trying to push them on. They’re trying to build experience and we’re trying to blend the youth in with the older boys.
“Barry Daly and Martin Penrose were as good as there was on the field, so we’ll keep them for another while.
“Brendan (McLaughlin) had a super game, Cormac (Munroe) had a super game, and Sean Loughran in there as well. We’ll keep pushing them, and hopefully the season will be a wee bit longer than we expected.”
Daly and his assistant Noel Hurson are expecting a much tougher test against an Edendork side that handed out a heavy beating to SFC first-timers Tattyreagh at the weekend.
“They were unlucky not to reach the final last year. Edendork have some fantastic players. You have Darren McCurry, Niall Morgan, and a man that is standing out at college level and will probably be close to county level this year in Conn Kilpatrick.
“So we know that is a massive task, but it’s one we relish, and one we will give a good stab at.”
Carrickmore are still comfortably out in front in the Tyrone SFC roll of honour with 15 titles, but they haven’t claimed the O’Neill Cup since 2005.
Also through to the quarter-finals following the weekend action are Omagh and Errigal Ciaran, who will meet in the next round.
The remaining four first round ties are scheduled for this weekend, with champions Coalisland set to make the first defence of their title with a difficult tie against Ardboe on Sunday evening.
