Three Junior titles in-a-row for Omagh hurlers

TYRONE JUNIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

Omagh 2-14  Naomh Colum Cille 2-9

By Niall Gartland

OMAGH St Enda’s clinched their third Tyrone Junior Hurling Championship in as many years with Sunday’s deserved victory over their familiar foes Naomh Colum Cille at O’Neill’s Healy Park.

Omagh were the better team on the day, a really disciplined defensive showing keeping Naomh Colum Cille largely at bay throughout an entertaining and sporting contest.

Their opponents’ late efforts at mounting a comeback ultimately proved fruitless and Omagh can savour another warranted Junior title success, indicative of the considerable progress they have made in recent years on the hurling front.

As for how it all panned out, Naomh Colum Cille struck first, Ronan Maguire latching onto a super pass by Clillian Early and splitting the posts with only 10 seconds on the clock.

It didn’t take long for Omagh to issue their response, Oisin O’Neill drawing level in the second minute, though their opponents soon had the lead again when AJ McCann landed a skyscraper free from distance.

St Enda’s moved into a 0-3 to 0-2 lead following back-to-back scores, the lively Tom McClements getting out in front of his man, after which he was fouled and converted the resulting free.

They were starting to click up front and Liam Griffiths claimed their latest point after an impressive run, while corner-back Malachi Leonard also caught the eye with a pitch-perfect delivery, even though it ultimately came to nought.

Naomh Colum Cille’s passes into the inside-forward line weren’t really sticking thanks to the combined efforts of the Omagh defensive rearguard, though they kept the scoreboard ticking over with two more frees from AJ McCann.

They were finding it particularly difficult to keep tabs on McClements, who again was fouled, and again did the needful from the dead ball, this time a tricky effort from way out on the flank as the clock ticked into the second quarter.

Oisin McGuigan set up McClements for Omagh’s latest score, though Naomh Colum Cille retorted with the opening goal of the game, Vinny McCann turning his man and firing a wicked shot to the corner of the net in the 18th minute.

They led by 1-4 to 0-5 but not for long as Omagh conjured a goal of their own, Eoin Maguire making no mistake when the opportunity presented itself after an assist from Griffiths.

There were a scattering of scores in the remainder of the half – McCann’s fourth free of the day, two more frees from McClements, and an excellent effort from Naomh Colum Cille forward Conor Doherty.

Omagh led by the bare minimum at the break (1-7 to 1-6), so it was really all to play for, though the leaders did have the wind advantage after the interval.

McClements banged over his latest free and then, one of the points of the day – Omagh’s impressive centre-half back Cian McGuigan playing a super pass to Griffiths, who exhibited tremendous skill to turn and point.

St Enda’s had momentum at this juncture and opened up a 1-10 to 1-6 lead with McClement’s standing over the dead ball for his eighth of the day.

Naomh Colum Cille’s route one tactic wasn’t really paying dividends with the likes of Malachi Leonard and Byron O’Neill having a stormer at the back, though they belatedly got their account up and running again with a fantastic AJ McCann free from the half-way line with 42 minutes gone. Seconds later they got another, this time from Gary Mulgrew, so they were right back in the contest.

Omagh responded through two McClements frees, one a sublime effort from distance, as they reasserted control. Then McClements was on hand for his second point from play of the day and his 10th on total, making it 1-13 to 1-8 with 19 minutes remaining.

St Enda’s captain Lagan and goalkeeper Ryan Woods combined to prevent a goal-bound effort from Donncha O’Neill, and that preceded yet another score from McClements.

At 1-14 to 1-8 with fewer than five minutes remaining, it was a long enough way back for Naomh Colum Cille but they found themselves only three points in arrears with a superb second goal by Vinny McCann, after a clever assist from sub Donncha O’Neill – game on.

O’Neill was making a big impact and drew a free which was converted by McCann with a minute remaining. Only a goal would do for Naomh Colum Cille at this late stage and it didn’t transpire.

Instead, it was Omagh who had the final say, Liam Griffiths showing beautiful stick work to round the goalie and round off a memorable day’s work for St Enda’s.

Scorers

Omagh: Tom McClements (0-11, 8f), Liam Griffiths (1-2), Eoin Maguire (1-0), Oisin O’Neill (0-1).

Naomh Colum Cille: AJ McCann (0-6), Vinny McCann (2-0), Ronan Maguire, Conor Doherty and Gary Mulgrew (0-1 each).

Teams

Omagh: Ryan Woods, Órán Ó Doibhlinn, Malachy Cassidy, Paul McKernaghan, Malachi Leonard, Bryon O’Neill, Cian McGuiganm Ciaran Lagan, Oisin McGuigan, Eunan Campbell, Tom McClements, Eoin Maguire, Oisin O’Neill, Liam Griffiths, Pascal O’Neill. Subs: Cormac Taggart for Oisin O’Neill, Brian Gallagher for Cassidy, Damien Woodhead for Maguire.

Naomh Colum Cille: Thomas Kelly Watt, Caolan McLoughlin, Odhran McMurray, Liam McIlvenna, Aaron McCann, Ronan Maguire, Sean Kelly, Ryan O’Neill, Vinny McCann, Darragh Coney, Lughaidh O’Neill, Cillian Early, Conor Doherty, AJ McCann, Seamus Hagan. Subs: Donncha O’Neill for Early, Gary Mulgrew for L O’Neill, Irwin Donnellan for Aaron McCann, Peter Corr for Maguire, Joe Clifford for S Kelly.

Referee: John Devlin (Pomeroy).