Sludden slings over late winner for Dromore

DROMORE claimed their third

Tyrone SFC title in five years with a narrow win in a gripping decider at Healy Park.

A seven-point lead in a low-scoring game should have had the O’Neill Cup secured long before the finish, but Clonoe came storming back to go level with two late goals. But they held their nerve and teenager Niall Sludden emerged as the hero with the winning point.

Now the newly crowned champions have just a week to prepare for their Ulster Club Championship opener against Derry champions Ballinderry.

This one-point win exacted revenge on a Clonoe side which had denied Dromore in the 2008 final in almost identical circumstances.

Winning captain Eoin McCusker walked away with two trophies, having finished championship top scorer with a 2-21 tally, including yesterday’s 1-2 contribution.

In front of a crowd of 4,550 at a rain-lashed Healy Park, all the early drama surrounded referee Eamon McHugh, who twisted his knee after just 45 seconds and had to be carried to the dressing room. Linesman Eugene McConnell took over following a seven minute delay.

Dromore went in at half-time with a 0-6 to 0-3 interval lead, and went further ahead when Ryan McMenamin pushed forward from the back to split the posts. And they struck for a goal in the 35th minute, a score that was to prove the catalyst for a pulsating second-half.

But Dromore were to score just one further point, pinned back for long stretches by a resurgent Clonoe side.

When centre-back Coney beat McCarron to a Patrick Doris delivery to shrug off two defenders and plant the ball in the net, the deficit was down to three. Minor Daniel McNulty drilled home a brilliant second to level the game.

As the rain intensified, Dromore were able to produce the killer punch with Sludden floating over an immaculate winner.

Scorers for Dromore: E McCusker 1-2 (1f), P Montague 0-2 (1f), K Donnelly, R McMenamin, S O’Neill, N Sludden 0-1 each.

Scorers for Clonoe: D McNulty 1-1, S Coney 1-0, P Doris 0-2 (2fs), C Donnelly 0-1.

DROMORE: P Ward, F O’Neill, C McCarron, K Donnelly, C O’Hara, R McMenamin, S O’Neill, H McNulty, P Montague, R McNabb, E McCusker, N Sludden, S McDonnell, E O’Neill, C McCullagh.

Sub: C O’Neill for Donnelly

CLONOE: M O’Neill, D Burke, A Brady, D Coney, E Teague, S Coney, G Coney, S O’Hagan, S McNulty, C McAliskey, C Doris, C Donnelly, P Doris, RT O’Neill, PJ Lavery.

Subs: D McNulty for RT O’Neill, D Hanna for D Coney, RR O’Neill for McAliskey, RT O’Neill for Lavery.

Referee: E McHugh (Aghyaran) replaced by E McConnell (Clogher).