Trillick’s famous battling spirit has stood the gruelling test of character that is the Tyrone Championship, and another stiff examination awaits in Friday’s semi-final clash with Dungannon.
A first round epic against Loughmacrory went to extra-time, and then to a penalty shoot-out, which the St Macartan’s won with the help of goalkeeping heroics from Joe Maguire.
And in the quarter-final, they needed a stoppage time winner from Lee Brennan to get past Edendork by a single point.
“They were pure battles against two excellent teams, and the next round will be no different,” said attacker Ryan Gray.
“We know that every Championship game in Tyrone is an absolute battle, and there’s so many teams that are at the same level.
“We knew coming in against Edendork that it was going to be no different, and that’s what it proved to be.”
A spine constructed of familiar names continues to do the business for a club that is never far away when it comes to chasing O’Neill Cup glory.
But the integration of a fresh wave of young talent has added a new dynamic and a renewed vigour.
“The Brennans and the Donnellys have been the spine of our team for the last five, six, eight years.
“We’re lucky to have them, and they’re pushing the younger boys on,” said 25-year-old Gray.
“That’s what it’s about, trying to bring as many young boys through as possible.”
The loss of Mattie Donnelly to a season-ending injury meant Trillick had to plan their latest title challenge without an inspirational leader.
But they have adjusted their system to compensate for the blow, with passion and workrate featuring heavily in their battling victory over an Edendork side that had eliminated last year’s beaten finalists Carrickmore.
“There was more breaking ball that had to be won in the second half, and it was just about putting your body on the line.
“We knew what Edendork would bring to the table after their performance last week.
“Every game is a battle now from here on in, and we’re just glad to get over the line.
“We were up against it in the first half, but it evens itself out overall.
“We knew that the challenge would be. it was a strong breeze, but we knew that of we worked the ball well, we would come out on the right side.”
A gripping quarter-final was in the balance right through to the dying moments, when Trillick used their guile to create one last scoring chance for their ace finisher Lee Brennan, who shot a stoppage time winner from a 45 metre free.
“Edendork have top quality players all over the field, so we knew that it was going to be a battle to the final whistle, and that’s what it was.
“We knew that if we worked the ball, get it to the right men in the right positions, we just had to keep chipping away at the score-board, and it worked out in the end.”
