Trillick Suffer Penalty Shoot Out Heartbreak

Sunday 03.11.2019

Championship Football

Tyrone senior champions Trillick exited the Ulster Club series when they lost to Fermanagh side Derrygonnelly Harps after a penalty shoot out at Brewster Park in Enniskillen on Sunday afternoon.

With the teams level following two ten minute periods of extra time it all came down to spot kicks. Former county man Lee Brennan hit his team’s sixth penalty but saw his shot rebound off the post resulting in victory for the Fermanagh men. Derrygonnelly will now go through to the semi finals where they will meet Down champions Kilcoo.

This was a real ding dong battle between two very evenly matched and talented sides. Derrygonnelly started brightly with midfield duo Ryan Jones and Stephen Mc Gillion leading by example as they established a grip on the middle that Trillick struggled to break.

Matthew Donnelly opened the scoring with a fine point inside the first minute but Derrygonnelly responded immediately with a goal. A high ball into the Trillick square was finished to the net by corner back Eamon Mc Hugh. Lee Brennan and Liam Gray added points for the Reds but Harps full forward Conall Jones landed a brace of his own to maintain the gap.

Trillick levelled when a superb pass from Ritchie Donnelly found his brother Mattie free in front of the Derrygonnelly goal. The Tyrone captain off loaded immediately to the inrushing Ryan Gray who finished superbly to the net.

Both sides added three further points during the remainder of the half to go in at the break tied at 1-6 apiece. Lee Brennan (2) and Liam Gray were on target for Trillick while Derrygonnelly’s three scores came from Ryan Jones, Garvan Jones and Conall Jones.

As the half ended it became clear that an injury to Mattie Donnelly was proving troublesome for the Trillick management and it was no surprise when he didn’t return to the field of play after the break. Losing their talisman was a huge blow for Trillick but they battled bravely throughout the remainder of the game and made light of his absence.

At the start of the second half Conall Jones pointed to put Derrygonnelly ahead but Trillick worked a fine goal four minutes later when James Garrity finished excellently to the net. Ryan Jones and Daire Gallagher exchanged scores before Derrygonnelly ace Declan Cassidy was black carded. Lee Brennan stretched the Trillick lead to three but a brace of points from Conall and Garvan Jones quickly reduced the lead to one.

Two further points from the boot of Brennan put Trillick three up with eight minutes remaining. Unfortunately for The Reds they failed to extend the lead in spite of having a couple of decent chances to do so. Against a side of the quality and experience of Derrygonnelly that usually means only one thing and the Fermanagh side landed the final three points of the half to take the game to extra time. Girvan Jones hit two lovely scores before wing back Shane Mc Gullion got the all important levelling score.

The first half of extra time was all about Trillick as they added 1-1 to their tally. A goal from the boot of Ryan Gray and another Lee Brennan point put Trillick in a very strong position. However as happened during ordinary time back again came Derrygonnelly. Three quick fire scores after the restart of extra time reduced the gap to one as Garvan Jones (2) and Ryan Jones pointed.

With time running out Derrygonnelly won a free deep in injury time which was converted by Conall Jones to once again tie the game. Shortly after that score the final whistle sounded meaning it was going to take a penalty shootout to finally decide the outcome.

Both sides converted their first five penalties before the game was decided on who missed first. Conall Jones converted for Derrygonnelly before former Tyrone ace Lee Brennan struck the post with his shot and for Trillick the dream of a good run in Ulster was over.

It was certainly tough on the Tyrone champions but they can hold their heads high after such a superb display of determination and teamwork. With so many fine young players coming through it may not be too long before these guys are back competing in the Ulster Club again.

Match report in association with Sally’s of Omagh…