Donaghmore Secure Narrow Win In Reserve Final

Thursday 07.09.2023

Championship Football

Donaghmore and Trillick served up a hard fought and entertaining clash on Wednesday evening at the superbly appointed Pairc Eire Óg before the Village side emerged one point winners over the Reds. Right from the off this was a close one with little between the sides on the scoreboard or on the pitch.

Donaghmore began well and opened their account inside the first minute with a point from young gun Noah Grimes. Trillick drew level when veteran Niall Gormley split the posts three minutes into the opening half. A Deasuin Quinn free had Donaghmore in front again on six minutes before  Gormley was inches wide with an audacious effort from the sideline but Trillick did not have to wait long for the equaliser which came two minutes later following a strong run and good finish from wing back Conal Mc Cann.

Points from Quinn and Fergal Donaghy put Donaghmore ahead again but a converted seventeenth minute free from Gormley kept the Reds in touch. Quinn and Donaghy added another brace of scores to open the gap to three before Trillick corner forward Charlie Donnelly bagged two points inside the space of two minutes to send the teams off at the break with Donaghmore leading 0-6 to 0-5.

The second half was twelve seconds old when Niall Gormley drew the teams level at six apiece. Scores and space were hard to come by as both defences worked hard to restrict their opponents denying time on the ball and opportunities to score. Fergal Donaghy pointed on twelve minutes to put Donaghmore ahead but a minute later it was all square again as Niall Gormley fired over his team’s seventh point of the game. Full back Ben Hughes made a surging tun through the Trillick defence for his team’s eighth point and two minutes later the lead was two with a fine score from team captain Deasuin Quinn.

A well struck free from corner forward Rory Burns reduced the gap to one for Trillick but the Reds will look back on this one with regret at the missed  scoring opportunities both from placed balls and from play during the final ten minutes.

A superb effort from Niall Gormley sailed high into the night sky before bouncing on the crossbar and being cleared by the vigilant Donaghmore defence. It was a frantic last few minutes with both sides adding a point apiece in added time. A Marcus Mulgrew effort made it a two point game but the spirit of the Reds kept Trillick in the contest when goalkeeper Ryan Kelly converted a long range free.

Both sides had further chances to add to their total but a combination of hard work and indecision meant Donaghmore claimed the Paddy Starrs Memorial Cup on a final score of 0-10 to 0-9.

It would be remiss not to thank the host club for their hard work in staging the game. The playing surface, facilities and organisation were top class.