Omagh Lift O’Neill Cup

Sunday 15.10.2017

Championship Football

Omagh 0-10 Errigal Ciaran 0-8

2014 champions Omagh got their names on the O’Neill Cup again after edging a dour decider against Errigal Ciaran at Healy Park yesterday afternoo

Peter Harte opened the scoring and both sides then missed goal chances. Cormac O’Neill for Omagh and Ronan McRory were both denied goals by the respective keepers. The St.Endas finally opened their account after a dozen minutes when Conor O’Donnell made no mistake from a free in front of the posts after Conan Grugan had been fouled.

Grugan was involved in a lot of play for Omagh and he edged them in front with a superb score after cutting in from the right wing. Omagh were on top at this stage and County attacker put them two in front with a well taken score.

In the 23^rd minute Errigal Ciaran had a great chance to take the lead when Mark Kavanagh was fouled for a penalty but Harte’s effort hit the base of the right hand post and the danger was cleared. Omagh made good their escape and in a low scoring encounter they moved further in front thanks to a close in Grugan free.

Errigal Ciaran rang the changes for the second half with three substitutes entering the fray and they narrowed the gap from a long-range Harte free. Omagh though wasted no time in responding with an inspirational point from team captain Joe McMahon.

O’Neill then converted a long range free to move the St.Endas in front by double scores, 0-6 to 0-3. It was very much stop start although substitute Peter Og McCartan did narrow the gap for Errigal Ciaran.

Omagh though continued to look the better side with Conor Meyler finding O’Donnell who hit the point of the game from out on the left wing. O’Neill and O’Donnell added further points for Omagh with substitute Darren Canavan responding for Errigal. Errigal were then dealt a blow when Eoin Quinn was black carded having earlier picked up a yellow one.

Errigal piled on the pressure but the Omagh defence stood firm and man of the match Grugan scored again to leave four between the sides. Omagh lost Ciaran McLaughlin to a second yellow before Ryan Lynch narrowed the gap with a free but Omagh held on.

Omagh: N McGinn, G Murray, H Gallagher, S Mullan, C McLaughlin, Joe McMahon (0-1), B Tierney, C Clarke, M Gallagher, T Gallagher, C Grugan (0-4), R O’Neill (0-3), C O’Neill, C O’Donnell (0-3), C Meyler. Subs: A Grugan for T Gallagher, Justin McMahon for Murray, J McAnulla for Clarke

Errigal Ciaran: R McAnenly, N Kelly, A McCrory, C Quinn, M Kavanagh, M McCrory, C McRory, B McDonnell, B Horisk, E Kelly, P Harte (0-5), E Quinn, R McRory, D Harte, P McGirr. Subs: P Og McCartan (0-1) for Kelly, D McDermott for McCrory, S McRory for R McRory, D Canavan (0-1) for McGirr, R Lynch (0-1) for D Harte, P McAnenly for Kavanagh

Referee: S Dorrity, Coalisland