Connolly’s of Moy Tyrone SFC final: Errigal Ciaran 0-13 Trillick 1-13 (after extra-time)
OKAY, enough about the curse of Tyrone’s run of condemned reigning champions.
The reasons why keeping hold of the O’Neill Cup has proved so difficult for so long stray nowhere near the supernatural, with Trillick proving that only the cold hard currencies of hunger and heart grant a through pass to championship glory in the Red Hand county.
Defending champions Errigal Ciaran came in as favourites, fancied to become the first club since Carrickmore in 2005 to successfully defend their crown. But, despite moments of momentum suggesting a siege could be incoming, their challenge fell flat in the face of a composed, controlled display.
Indeed, from 80-plus minutes of play, Errigal held the lead for the sum total of 20 seconds after Ciaran Quinn’s long-range effort four minutes into extra-time dipped over the top of Joe Maguire’s bar.
With legs tiring, it was stick or twist time for Trillick.
Typical of their brilliant bloody-mindedness, the inspirational Richie Donnelly went straight up the field and curled over the first of two superb scores in a matter of minutes. After the penalty heartache of 2020 against Dungannon, they were not going to be denied this time.
Victory came the hard way, however. It was a game they looked to have won in normal time, a hand and a couple of fingers on the famous trophy at one point, even though a six point lead early in the second half had been cut to three with seven minutes to play.
Peter Harte led the fightback deep into added time before substitute Odhran Robinson sent the game into extra-time. Having swatted aside all comers on the way to the final, and with a second chance now secured, Errigal surely wouldn’t let another opportunity slip?
But Trillick had other ideas, never bowing to the pressure and eventually turning the screw themselves, Maor Uisce Mattie Donnelly – still wearing a leg brace - living every second on the sideline in front of the terrace.
Younger brother Richie is among those who have stepped up to fill the void created by his injury but from Daniel Donnelly to Seanie O’Donnell, veteran Niall Donnelly to captain fantastic Rory Brennan, and plenty more besides, boss Jody Gormley wasn’t short on those who stood up to be counted on Sunday.
Following the recent loss of stalwart Gerard ‘Shep’ Donnelly, a five-time championship winner with the club, it was clear from the first ball that Trillick were men on a mission.
“Two weeks ago we laid to rest a special man – a legend in our community,” said an emotional Rory Brennan as he looked down on a sea of Red.
“He gave most of us our first taste of success, and instilled the hard work and character we carry with us today. He was a man who epitomised the spirit of the Reds, and no doubt he’s looking down on us a proud man today.”
The hard yards always seem to count for more in Tyrone, and Trillick looked every bit the side that had been road tested on the way to this final Sunday in October.
Penalty shoot-out victory over Loughmacrory was followed by the narrowest of wins over Edendork before Dungannon felt the full force of their championship intentions in the semi-final.
Tactically, they got it spot on, Trillick’s defensive template proving Errigal’s undoing in a dour first half.
Holding their shape and, crucially, their discipline inside their own 45, they frustrated the life out of the defending champions in that opening half hour, Rory Brennan producing another superb display - a sixth sense in snuffing out danger matched only by the strength to shrug off opponents and set his side off in the other direction once possession had been won.
The lung-busting run that led to Ryan Gray’s score in the second half of extra-time epitomised an incredible effort throughout.
With a combination of defensive poise and powerful counters giving Trillick a platform, Ciaran Daly’s goal just before half-time provided daylight in a game of fine margins as they went in five up at the break.
A sting in the tail was inevitable at some point. No Canavan had troubled the scoreboard until Ruairi’s 39th minute free, but that looked to have opened the floodgates as Darragh’s shimmying hips suddenly started to twist and turn, two scores in three minutes closing the gap.
With goalkeeper Dara McAnenly making the extra man out the field, and Errigal piling huge pressure on the Trillick kick-out, it was one-way traffic heading into the fourth quarter.
But Richie Donnelly led the resistance, taking a huge catch and kicking a monster score when it was most needed, before Daly settled Trillick nerves.
Sensing their grip on the title slipping, Errigal finally found the urgency that had been missing in an otherwise ponderous performance, Peter Harte using all his experience to haul his side to within a point before Robinson’s dramatic late leveller.
Tensions briefly flared as the sides headed for the tunnel, but it was Trillick who kept cool heads when extra-time came. Still they managed to make Healy Park as claustrophobic as possible, diving bravely at the boots of Errigal’s shooters before somehow summoning the energy to finish the job in some style as James Garrity, Ryan Gray and a lovely Lee Brennan free left the result beyond doubt.
A third county crown in nine years secured, the relentless Red march on into Ulster, where a clash with the men from Crossmaglen awaits.
Errigal Ciaran: D McAnenly; Cormac Quinn (0-2), A McCrory; Ciaran Quinn; P Og McCartan, Ciaran Quinn (0-1), B O’Donnell, P Traynor; P Harte (0-2), J Oguz (0-1); P O’Hanlon, T Canavan (0-1, free), M Kavanagh (0-2), D Canavan (0-2); D Morrow, R Canavan (0-1, free). Subs: E Kelly for Morrow (40), B Horisk for Traynor (40), O Robinson (0-1) for O’Hanlon (54), M McCann for Kavanagh (58), P O’Hanlon for T Canavan (69), P McGirr for D Canavan (74), M Kavanagh for Harte (75)
Yellow cards: P Harte (23), Cormac Quinn (48), O Robinson (58), P O’Hanlon (73, 80+3), P McGirr (76, 80+1)
Red cards: P McGirr (80+1), P O’Hanlon (80+3)
Trillick: J Maguire; D Donnelly, L Gray; R Brennan; Stevie O’Donnell, D Tunney, D Gallagher, Seanie O’Donnell (0-2); R Donnelly (0-3), P McCaughey; C Daly (1-2), N Donnelly, J Garrity (0-3); R Gray (0-1), L Brennan (0-2, frees). Subs: C Garrity for R Gray (39), D Kelly for Tunney (57), D McQuaid for L Gray (60+2, blood sub - reversed 60+4), R Gray for C Garrity (60, ET), McQuaid for N Donnelly (70+1), D Tunney for Stevie O’Donnell (79)
Black card: D Kelly (60+3)
Yellow cards: R Gray (33), L Gray (48), D Gallagher (52, 70 ET)
Referee: C Forbes (Ardboe)
