2021 REVIEW: Dromore emerge tops after thrilling SFC race

After the drama of last year, the 2021 Tyrone Senior Championship was going to have to go some to re-produce similar twists and turns, but once again there was no shortage of fascinating narratives thrown up.

Yes we might not have had the series of nerve-shredding penalty shootout scenarios served up repeatedly the previous season, yet in terms of quality, controversy, stunning fightbacks and highlight reel scores the O’Neill Cup race again delivered.

Dungannon went into the competition as defending champions but like the previous sixteen winners, stretching all the way back to 2005, they were unable to mount a successful back-to-back challenge.

The Clarkes died with their boots on however, and were involved in the tie of the first round against the team who would go to eventually take the title, Dromore.

The St Dympna’s went into the match with the benefit of a Championship contest already under their belts having accounted for Ardboe 0-12 to 0-10 in the preliminary round in a tense affair, a couple of late points from Emmett McNabb and Colm O’Neill steering them through.

Early goals from Padraig McNulty and Paddy Quinn had Dungannon very firmly in the box-seat and leading by eight points but inspired by a Tiarnan Sludden goal and superb showing from veteran marksman Eoin McCusker, Dromore came storming back to edge an extra-time thriller 2-22 to 4-12.

Comebacks were the story of the first round, with Coalisland staging the most astonishing of the lot to break Edendork hearts.

Darren McCurry, Niall Morgan and Conn Kilpatrick seemed to be leading the St Malachy’s to a big upset win until a brace of injury time Fianna goals from Peter Herron and Stephen McNally turned the match on its head as Coalisland completed a 4-9 to 3-10 houdini act.

In contrast there was no such problems for another of the fancied contenders, Errigal Ciaran, who thumped Clonoe 1-20 to 0-10. Darragh Canavan lit up the occasion with 1-4.

Old rivals Carrickmore and Omagh served up a classic. Carmen were cruising early on and stormed into a 2-5 to 0-1 lead but after a barnstorming St Enda’s fightback it ultimately took a late Niall Allison goal to seal Carrickmore’s progress, 3-12 to 1-14.

Loughmacrory secured a long awaited SFC triumph when edging out Derrylaughan 0-12 to 1-5 in a scrappy affair.

A much touted Trillick team opened their campaign with a 3-7 to 0-8 victory over Galbally, Lee Brennan and the Garrity brothers, James and Simon, with the goals.

Conor McKenna starred for Eglish as they got the better of Pomeroy 2-15 to 1-11, Seamus Muldoon and Luke Donnelly finding the net for the men in black.

Things were a lot closer in the Killyclogher vs Donaghmore tie, when Mark Bradley’s 1-3 scoring return edged St Mary’s across the winning line 1-10 to 1-9.

QUARTER-FINALS

Coalisland once again had to dig deep in the latter stages to preserve their Championship dreams when squeezing past Carrickmore 0-10 to 0-9. Star man Cormac O’Hagan (seven points) and Tiarnan Quinn got the decisive late scores to kill off a spirited young Carmen team, well served by Jonathan Munroe, Niall Allison and Daniel Fullerton.

Despite being deemed huge underdogs Eglish pushed Dromore all the way to extra-time before eventually bowing out 0-14 to 1-9. Star players Ryan McCusker, Peter Teague and Niall Sludden were among those to the fore for the victors. Luke Donnelly scored an early goal for St Patrick’s, while brothers Michael and Mattie McGleenan each worked hard around the midfield area throughout.

Meetings between Killyclogher and Trillick have tended to go down to the wire over recent years but that wasn’t the case in their most recent clash, the Reds bossing from the get-go to run out 3-14 to 1-6 winners. The brilliant Seanie O’Donnell weighed in with 1-3, while Rory Brennan bagged the other brace of goals for a rampant Trillick.

Loughmacrory produced a game display against Errigal Ciaran, spearheaded by the likes of Antoin Fox and Conall Grimes, but ultimately the class of the opposition told. That was epitomised by sub Ruairi Canavan’s audacious chipped goal, backing up Cathal Corrigan’s earlier strike, which provided the platform for the Dunmoyle boys to progress on a 2-9 to 0-7 scoreline.

SEMI-FINALS

The two semi-finals served uo classic encounters with fortunes fluctuating wildly throughout. The derby match between Dromore and Trillick threw-up hugely contrasting periods of dominance for either side. The Blues flew into a 0-7 to no score lead, with Emmett McNabb and Sean McNabb swinging over quality scores, but goals at the other end from Simon Garrity and Lee Brennan had the Reds in the box-seat at the interval leading 2-5 to 0-9.

They stretched further ahead on the restart but James Garrity’s 39th minute point was to be their last of the contest. Emmett McNabb (0-5), Peter Teague (0-4) and Nathan McCarron were among those who rose to the occasion superbly as Dromore sealed a famous 0-17 to 2-9 victory.

There was similar drama in the other last four match up between Coalisland and Errigal Ciaran. Three goals in the last ten minutes propelled the Fianna through 3-6 to 0-14 to leave their opponents shell-shocked.

With Ruairi Canavan, Peter Harte and Thomas Canavan popping over crucial scores down the home straight, Errigal eased into a 0-11 to 0-5 lead and with Coalisland seeing Tyrone defender Michael McKernan sent off, the outcome seemed inevitable.

However as was the theme throughout their Championship run Coalisland staged a stunning revival and goals by Jason Carberry, and subs Tiarnan Quinn (penalty) and Brian Toner completely turned the match on its head. Adding to the exciting conclusion was the fact that the Fianna had two men dismissed by the final whistle.

FINAL

And so to the East vs West shootout for the O’Neill Cup at Healy Park.

The first half was a cagey affair with captain Padraig Hampsey, chasing a dream double after his Tyrone heroics spearheading the Coalisland challenge.

They almost enjoyed a dream start when Michael McKernan was denied a goal by a brilliant save from Dromore keeper Mark McGale. Despite a sprightly showing early on from Emmett McNabb, St Dympna’s trailed 0-5 to 0-3, with Tiarnan Quinn, Plunkett Kane and Patrick McNeice among the Fianna points scorers.

However Odhran Rafferty and Sean McNabb registered scores to level matters up at five points apiece at half-time.

A transformed Dromore would proceed to boss the second period. They outscored their opponents by seven points and never looked back. Points from Niall Sludden and the excellent Emmett McNabb created a gap, and while McNeice responded for Coalisland with a point, they struggled to hold back the dynamic St Dympna’s at the other end. Three points in quick succession highlighted their control.

Ryan McCusker went through to score and then a treble from McNabb (who finished with 0-6, 4 frees) all but sealed the deal on a 0-15 to 0-8 scoreline.

All that remained was for Dromore captain Conor O’Hara to raise aloft the Paddy O’Neill Cup to a tumultuous reception, only the club’s fourth ever Senior Championship title.