Loughmacrory have the legs and heart for historic breakthrough in Tyrone 

PARISH PRIDE: Loughmacrory's Ruairi McCullagh celebrates after winning the  Tyrone Senior Football Championship Final, O'Neill's Healy Park, Omagh. Pic: INPHO/John McVitty

TYRONE SFC Final: Loughmacrory 0-18 Trillick 2-11 

A new force was born in Tyrone as Loughmacrory upset the odds with a first ever senior championship triumph amid scenes of joy and raw emotion.

Gareth Donaghy sent over a late winning point as they edged out favourites Trillick in a gripping decider at O’Neills Healy Park.

Just when this historic contest looked set to need a replay to settle it, the boys of the Lough stepped up, as they had done throughout the game, refusing to bow to the experience or the history of a club that had won nine titles and appeared in six of the last ten deciders.

The St Teresa’s had never even contested a semi-final prior to this season, but they finally fulfilled the promise that has been building steadily, and emerged defiantly from the shadow of parish neighbours Carrickmore, where they have been lurking for more than half a century.

Cathal Donaghy was a towering figure at midfield, and up front, Eoin McElholm and Ruairi McCullagh, attacking starts of Tyrone’s back-to-back All-Ireland U20 titles, tormented the Trillick defence throughout.

Ciaran Daly kept the pre-match favourites in the game with two goals, one in each half, and when Lee Brennan brought them level five minutes from the end, there was a feeling that Loughmacrory, who had contested a semi-final replay on the previous weekend, would not have the legs to last out.

But they found one last infusion of inspiration, and McElholm’s scything run carved open the opportunity for the glorious winner.

Unsurprisingly, it was Trillick who settled in to the contest early on, going three ahead through Charlie Donnelly, Lee Brennan, from a ’45, and Simon Garrity.

But Loughmcrory, with the gusting wind in their backs, seized control of the middle third, winning clean and broken ball through Aodhan and Cathal Donaghy, and with Eoin McElholm terrorising the Reds defence with his movement, vision and finishing, the balance swung very much in favour of the St Teresa’s.

Cathal Donaghy hoisted a two-pointer from far out on the right to edge them in front for the first time, and they followed up with scores from Ruairi McCukllagh and McElholm, who also smashed a fierce shot against the crossbar.

By the 18th minute they had built up a 0-7 to 0-4 lead, but Trillick grabbed a fortuitous goal, finished to the net from close range by Ciaran Daly after Brennan’s effort had dropped short.

The Lough quickly recovered their composure, finishing the half strongly with exquisite scores from McCullagh and McElholm, who sent a wonderful two-pointer sailing between the posts, before displaying another side to his game, delightfully creating the opening for Aodhan Donaghy to shoot them into a three points lead, 0-12 to 1-6 at the interval.

Cathal Donaghy led the Lough charge early in the second half with three quickfire points, but Daly cut through to collect a Mattie Donelly pass and rifle his second goal into the bottom corner of Oisin O’Kane’s net in the 33rd minute.

Mattie Donnelly led by example as the St Macartan’s dug in to get themselves back in a winning position, sending over a point, while his brother Richie came off the bench to add further experience.

Seanie O’Donnell ran strongly at the Loughmacrory defence, but Nathan Kelly and Arnoldas Macidulskas stood firm, while Ronan Fox was a rock at the heart of the resilience.

Richie Donnelly punched over a point, and a breach gave Lee Brennan an opportunity to equaliser from a 55th minute free.

But as both sides went in search of a winner, it was McElholm who cut through the Reds’ defence to send Gareth Donaghy away for the winner on 60 minutes.

Scorers for Loughmacrory: R McCullagh 0-6 (3f), C Donaghy 0-5 (1tp), E McElholm 0-4 (1tp), G Donaghy, A Donaghy, C Gallagher 0-1 each.

Scorers for Trillick: C Daly 2-0, L Brennan 0-5 (3f, 1 ’45), M Donnelly, S Garrity, C Donnelly, L Gray, R Donnelly, R Brennan 0-1 each.

Loughmacrory: O O’Kane; D Curran, N Kelly, A Macidulskas; S Dobbs, R Fox, S Conway; A Donaghy, C Donaghy; G Donaghy, E McElholm, C Gallager; P Meenagh, R McCullagh, M McNamee.

Subs: R Grimley for Meenagh (61) 

Trillick: J Maguire; D Gallagher, P McCaughey, Stephen O’Donnell; C Garrity, R Brennan, M Gallagher; L Gray, C Daly; Seanie O’Donnell, M Donnelly, C Donnelly; J Garrity, L Brennan, S Garrity.

Subs: D Tunney for Stephen O’Donnell (39), R Donnelly for C Donnelly (43), L Corry for S Garrity (48) 

Referee: M Loughran (Errigal Ciaran).