Ardboe Defeat Omagh To Claim Frank O’Neill Cup

Tuesday 29.04.2025

Ardboe

The second trophy of the new season was handed out on Monday night at Healy Park when Ardboe picked up the Frank O’Neill Cup following a one point win over Omagh. The loughshore men looked to be in total control as they moved five points clear with less than three minutes remaining before a late rally from Omagh saw Hugh Gallagher score 1-1 in the last minute of the game to leave the final score Ardboe 0-19 Omagh 1-15.

Played in excellent conditions the first half flew by with little between the sides. The teams were level on five occasions in the first period with Fionnbharr Taggart, Ronan O’Neill (2), Conan Campbell (2), Oisin Miller, Eoghan Mc Namee and Jason Mc Anulla all on target for the home side.

Ardboe were well in the contest throughout and would have been a little disappointed to have reached the break one behind. Eugene Teague, Cormac Devlin and Eoin Canavan got Ardboe’s opening three points which saw them lead by two after ten minutes. Two Ronan O’Neill scores for Omagh drew the sides level and it was score for score up until the break with Omagh one in front when referee Andrew Mc Kenna sounded the whistle for half time. A brace of Aaron Quinn points and a point apiece from Shea O’Hare and Shay Mc Guigan completed the first have scoring for the Rossas.

Omagh extended their team to four after the restart with points from Eoghan Mc Namee and Ronan O’Neill (2)before Ardboe enjoyed their most productive spell of the evening. Points from Eoghan Devlin, Aaron Quinn, Eugene Og Teague and a two pointer from Shay Mc Guigan put Ardboe ahead for the first time in the match with twelve minutes of the second half played.

The highly impressive Oisin Miller scored to level it once more before Aaron Quinn struck his fourth point of the evening to put Ardboe one in front again with fifty two minutes on the clock. Both sides missed chances and as the wides total began to rise extra time was becoming a real possibility.

Omagh levelled the scores at 0-13 apiece when Barry Tierney surged forward to add his name to the list of scorers. Ardboe’s response saw them move two clear with points from Jamie Concannon and Eoin Canavan before Conan Grugan and DD Mulgrew swapped scores as the clock ticked towards the final minutes.

Another Shay Mc Guigan two pointer followed by a fine finish from Shea O’Hare looked to have sealed the win for Ardboe as they moved five clear. However there was still time for more drama and a nervy ending as second half substitute Hugh Gallagher hit 1-1 inside a minute to leave only a point between the teams when referee Andrew Mc Kenna sounded the final whistle.

All in all an excellent game of football between two well drilled and evenly matched sides. Final score Ardboe 0-19 Omagh St Endas 1-15.