Hurling The Winner On Sunday

Monday 07.10.2024

Club

The Finals of the Tyrone senior and junior club championships took place in Healy Park on Sunday and for those who follow the “small ball” game it was surely a day to remember. Two pulsating finals with skill and courage in spades saw the junior title remain in Omagh and Carrickmore Eire Óg make it five senior titles in a row.

Omagh Saint Endas faced Naomh Columcille in the junior title as reigning champions following their win over the same opposition last year. Some might say there was an element of good fortune in that win and that Sunday’s final would tell us more about the progress of hurling in the county town.

The Cilles played with the elements in the first half and began well with early points from AJ Mc Cann, Chris Kearns, Paul Greville and Oisin O’Neil. Ciaran Lagan pointed to break their run but by the twentieth minute NCC had opened up a a 0-8 to 0-3 lead.

Omagh had looked nervous in the opening minutes but scores from the very impressive Tom Mc Clements and Ciaran Lagan gave them hope and when Fionn Corry hit the net after twenty four minutes the teams were level 0-8 to 1-5.

NCC responded and fired over points from Mc Cann and Caolan Mc Laughlin to put two between them with half time rapidly approaching. There was still time for one more score and Ciaran Lagan duly obliged when he converted a long distance free to send Omagh in at the break trailing by a single point 0-10 to 1-6.

Paul O’Grady’s team took to the field for the second half in determined mood and produced a third quarter to remember. They overturned a one point deficit to a seven point lead with some superb hurling and some great scores. Points from Lagan, Tom Mc Clements, Eunan Campbell, Oisin Mc Guigan and Damian Woodhead put Omagh 1-14 to 0-10 ahead.

AJ Mc Cann eventually broke that run of scoring but even with fifteen minutes left an Omagh win looked the most likely outcome such was their control of the game. A brace of points from Eunan Campbell stretched the Omagh lead before AJ Mc Cann hit the net for NCC. Unfortunately for NCC that was as good as it got for the east Tyrone side as in the remaining minutes Omagh added a goal apiece from Fionn Corry and Damian Woodhead with points from the very impressive Ciaran Lagan.

Final Score: Omagh 3-19, NCC 2-11

The senior final was another cracker of a game between two well matched and well coached sides. Both enjoyed periods of dominance but for most of the game there was little or nothing between the sides. Only a point separated the teams at the break with Eire Og leading 1-9 to 1-8 and by the time the final whistle sounded the Carrickmore based side were 3-16 to 3-13 in front.

Five in a row must have played on the minds of both sides on Sunday as the 2024 senior final began at a frantic pace. Aidan Kelly opened the scoring when he pointed from a free in the third minute. The next fifteen minutes saw Eoghan Ruaidh on top with points from Turlough Mullin and Brannon Molloy before Piaras Mc Erlean fired in his team’s first goal of the day.

A brace of points from the stick of Aidan Woods steadied the ship as both sides traded scores before a goal from Aidan Kelly put his team in front for the first time since the third minute. Aidan Woods and Brannon Molloy swapped points just as half time arrived to leave the score at the break 1-9 to 1-8 in favour of Eoghan Ruaidh.

The second half was every bit as competitive and entertaining as the first with Eoghan Ruaidh on top. James Mc Cann opened the scoring after the break before Eire Óg’s Aidan Kelly converted a 65. This was followed by a finely struck goal from the stick of Turlough Mullin and minutes later Piaras Mc Erlean struck the net for his team to leave Eoghan Ruaidh six in front 3-11 to 1-11.

A couple of Aidan Kelly points kept the game honest as Eire Óg battled to get back into the contest. With eight minutes left Kelly converted another free and Conor Grogan reduced the deficit after a strong run and finish. Micky Little scored to make it 3-13 to 1-16 for Eoghan Ruaidh as a couple of goal chances slipped by. However the real drama was reserved for the final two minutes when a pair of Sean Og Grogan goals snatched victory from the jaws of defeat for the Carmen lads and the five in a row was completed.

What a finish to a superb game of hurling. Both teams deserve great credit for the quality of the game and the manner in which it was played. The real winner on Sunday was the game of hurling in Tyrone.