Trillick defender Daire Gallagher believes workrate and intensity have been the key drives in the club’s run to the Connolly's of Moy Tyrone SFC final.
Relentless chasing and tackling inspired the St Macartan’s to victories over Edendork and
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, after they had squeezed past Loughmacrory in a first round penalty shoot-out.
But they face the biggest test to date when they meet
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in the decider on Sunday week.
“That’s key in modern day football – possession – it’s probably nine-tenths of the law, and thankfully that has worked.
“We kept the frees down and worked hard as a collective, which is what we’re all about.”
Trillick have made it to a third county final in five years despite the loss of Mattie Donnelly to a season-ending knee injury.
The Tyrone star remains an integral part of the squad, an ever-present t training sessions and a sideline motivator on match-days.
“Trillick is a collective, and Mattie is part of that collective.
“No doubt Mattie is a great around the province, not only in our own club.
“There’s plenty of people you would want to win a Championship form and Matie is one of them.”
A number of injuries have tested the depth of manpower resources, and manager Jody Gormley and his assistant Peter McGinnity have placed their trust in the extended squad. Those drafted in have met the challenge with assurance.
“We have Michael Gallagher who had a bad knee injury and Fergal Donnelly has a bad neck injury at the minute, Simon Garrity as well, but we have replaced them and you just have to go at it hard, and that’s what we do.”
Gallagher is likely to be handed the task of shadowing one of Errigal’s exciting Canavan brothers in the O’Neill Cup decider.
He was tasked to mark Dungannon’s ace finisher Paul Donaghy in the semi-final, and held the former Tyrone attacker to a single point from play in the 2-11 to 1-9 win.
“It’s a big task. There’s a lot of talented footballers in Tyrone, and Paul is certainly one of the top forwards in the county.
“I got plenty of help. Sometimes these things work for you, sometimes they don’t, but thankfully I came out on the right side of it.”
Last Friday’s victory ended a sequence of defeats to Dungnnon, who had come out on top in Championship clashes twice in recent seasons, including the 2020 final, which was decided by a penalty shoot-out.
“Dungannon is a great team, we have had many battles against them throughout the years, and hopefully we’ll get a few more in the future.
“They have got scoring forwards, they’re very powerful around the middle, so you have to play until the final whistle blows, whether that’s 60 minutes or extra-time, whatever the case may be.
“The same as any other team in Tyrone, there’s probably a point or two between them.
“You have to do your homework and thankfully whatever work we have done paid off on the pitch, it was a good performance.”
There’s much more work to be done, but the Reds believe they can add a ninth Championship title on Sunday week.
“We don’t want to leave it behind is. We have one more job to do, to hopefully get our hands on the title, but we’re under no illusions, it’s going to be a tough battle.”
