Trillick attacker Ryan Gray says any team that can survive and triumph in the minefield that is the Tyrone Senior Football Championship shouldn’t fear any opponent.
The Red Hand title-holders take on Scotstown’s star-studded side in Sunday’s Ulster Club SFC semi-final, the Monaghan champions buoyed by a dramatic win over Kilcoo.
Trillick’s convincing quarter-final win over Crossmaglen sparked hope that this could be the year that a Tyrone team could make an impact, despite the county’s poor record in the provincial series.
“Whenever you get out of Tyrone, you have to back yourself, because it’s an absolutely hard championship to win,” said Gray.
“There’s no reason why we can’t push on now and give a good account of ourselves moving forward.”
Read more:
Trillick is where the heart will always be for Lee Brennan
Gray, who has been one of the St Macartans’ outstanding performers this season, is enjoying the freedom of Ulster Championship football following the pressurised environment of the county championship.
And he feels Trillick have the kind of players who can express themselves on the provincial stage.
“The pressure is kinda off, in a way, once you get out of Tyrone, and it’s good to let the shackles off and show what we’re about.
“We have top quality all over the pitch, and it’s jut about performing on the day.
“But we know that if we don’t perform, we can very easily be beaten too, so it’s about every man putting their shoulder to the wheel for the next one.”
The Reds are glowing with confidence after eclipsing the legendary Crossmaglen at Omagh, holding the Armagh kingpins scoreless in the second half as they came from behind to win by five points.
“I don’t think there’s any reason why we should fear anyone now. we have taken great confidence from that performance.
“But we do still know that we have lots to work on, especially that first half. We wouldn’t be quite happy with that so there’s a few things to look at.
“We weren’t really happy with our first half performance, to be honest, so we knew coming out in the second half we needed to lift it.
“We got a few points in a row, and just built from there.
“Every man was required to put in a big shift, and that’s what we got, and we’re happy it’s coming to fruition t this time of the year.”
Injured pair Mattie Donnelly and Michael Gallagher remain very much involved with the group, a constant presence on training nights and match days.
“Those men are in the gym every night before the team trains. They’re always there, always shoring up, they’re committed boys, and this is just as much for them as it is for us.
“And we’ll be happy to have them back whenever they return next year.”
