Omagh Minors Complete Double In Association With D Hamill

Friday 04.08.2023

Interviews

Omagh lifted the Tyrone Ladies Grade One league title on Thursday evening at Greencastle 1-15 to 3-8 but they did so the hard way having been pushed to the pins of their collars by a very well drilled and talented Kildress side who contributed hugely to the game.

The same teams met a week ago in the championship final and Omagh cruised to victory but it was a different story and a different Kildress side this time around. Playing against the wind the Wolfe Tones made the perfect start with a goal straight from the throw in by the outstanding Marianna Loughran. Omagh responded courtesy of points from Aine Strain and Emer Cunningham to make it a one point game but six minutes in and the favourites were rocked back on their heels when Loughran burst through to score hers and her team’s second goal and put Kildress four clear. That two goal start gave Kildress great confidence and rattled Omagh and in took the county champions a while to get going as a well marshalled Kildress defence made them fight for every ball.

A brace of Emer Cunningham points and one from Una Mc Crory reduced the deficit to a single score as Omagh enjoyed more possession but tremendous defensive work from Kildress, especially goalkeeper Roisin Mc Gurk kept them at bay. Points from Jodie Mc Crory and Maianna Loughran put three points between the sides midway through the first half before a superb Kildress effort struck the crossbar and Omagh breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Kildress made light of the underdogs tag as they fought and harried all over the field upsetting Omagh’s rhythm and forcing their opponents into many uncharacteristic mistakes. Omagh hit three in a row from Leah Swift, Tori Mc Mullan and Emer Cunningham to tie the game with four minutes of the first half remaining. However it was Kildress who went in at the break leading 2-3 to 0-8 following a converted free from corner forward Jodie Mc Crory whose accuracy from free kicks all evening was a joy to watch.

Aine Strain gave Omagh the perfect start to the second half with an early point but Jodie Mc Crory responded with another converted free as she and Omagh’s number fifteen Emer Cunningham enjoyed something of a shoot out from placed balls over the course of the hour.

A brace of frees from Omagh courtesy of Cunningham and a goal from the same player put Omagh four clear. Mc Crory and Omagh midfielder Emer Mc Canny swapped points before corner forwards Cunningham and Loughran added a point apiece to their team’s totals. Then came one of the scores of the game when Leah Mc Crory forced a turnover and burst through the Omagh defence to fire to the net and leave it Omagh 1-13 Kildress 3-6 and game on.

The game was very much in the melting pot but once more Omagh’s corner forwards came to their rescue with a point apiece from Leah Swift and Emer Cunningham to help steady the Omagh ship. Kildare added points from Mc Crory and substitute Therese Loughran to make it a one point game but the Omagh defence denied them the time and space they needed to work an equalising score. Referee Gary Gormley sounded the whistle and Omagh celebrated being deserved double champions.

Final score: Omagh 1-15, Kildress 3-8