Omagh Overcome Cross Challenge

Sunday 02.11.2014

Club

Healy Park has seen some fabulous games, stirring comebacks and memorable clashes over the years but few will live as long in the memory as Sunday’s historic win over Crossmaglen.

The Armagh champions and Ulster Club specialists came to Omagh intent on dispensing with the home side and progressing to their usual place in the semi finals. For long periods in the first half all appeared to be going to script as Cross reached the break 1-8 to 1-2 in front.

Omagh turned around with the aid of the breeze in the second period and fired up by the sense of challenge every man played his part in securing a famous two point victory. Ronan O’Neill finished top scorer with 1-4 but this was no one man show as Stephen Mullan, Conor Meyler, Barry Tierney along with the Mc Mahons and Grugan brothers played the shirts off their backs in search of the win.

Crossmaglen’s indiscipline ultimately cost them but their two sendings off will not lessen the sense of accomplishment felt by all followers of the 2014 Tyrone County Champions. Omagh chased the game down throughout the second period and were rewarded when Barry Tierney punched to the net as the game entered its closing stages. Cross knew they were under pressure when they were reduced to thirteen following the sending off of Tony Kernan. Conan Grugan levelled the game before full forward O’Neill sealed a famous win and a place in the semis with two late points. Final score: Omagh 2-8, Crossmaglen 1-9.

Who knows perhaps this story has a few more chapters to record just yet and Omagh might yet make it all the way to the Ulster Final and beyond.

Omagh scorers: R O’Neill 1-4 (0-1f), B Tierney 1-0, C Grugan 0-2 (1f), C O’Donnell, J McAnulla 0-1 each.

Crossmaglen scorers: P Stuttard 1-0, T Kernan 0-3 (3f), K Brennan, J Clarke (1f) 0-2 each, M Aherne, J Murtagh 0-1 each.

Omagh: R Clarke, H Gallagher, Justin McMahon, S Mullan, C McLaughlin, B Tierney, C McMahon, Joe McMahon, C Grugan, A Grugan, J McAnulla, C McCarron, C O’Donnell, R O’Neill, C Meyler.

Subs: C O’Neill for McCarron, J Colton for C McMahon , D Kerr for McLaughlin

Crossmaglen: P Hearty, S Finnegan, J Morgan, P Hughes, P Stuttard, P McKeown, M Aherne, J Hanratty, R Kelly, T Kernan, J Clarke, M McNamee, K Carragher, C Cumiskey, K Brennan.

Subs: J Murtagh for Carragher, D McKenna for Brennan, A Kernan for Finnegan, A Cunningham for Hanratty