Magic Moortown clinch Tyrone Intermediate title

MOORTOWN St Malachy’s are the new Tyrone Intermediate champions thanks to a 0-11 to 0-6 win over Owen Roes in the final at Healy Park.

It was a close game throighout, but it was the Loughshore side who came good with the late points that assured them the title. Ryan ‘Butch’ Kelly raised the Paddy Cullen Cup aloft amid great celebrations for the club.

Owen Roes appeared to be in form during the opening stages. Points from Cathal McShane, Seamus Kelly and Seamus Dooher helped them into a 0-3 to 0-2 lead by the end of the first quarter and they loked capable of building on that.

However, the St Malachy’s kept battling. Peter Devlin brought them level, and they almost got a goal when Lee Kelly raced through only to see his shot being cleared.

Minutes later a great run through from Brian McLernon saw them go in front for the first time and it was a lead that they never subsequently lost. By half-time 6they were 0-8 to 0-3 ahead, with Peer Devlin, Shaun Conway, Padraig O’Hagan and then Peter Devlin again all registering scores.

The momentum which had seen them enter that lead in the first half was maintained on the resumption. Just minutes had elapsed at the start of the second half when Lee Kelly almost got through for a goal again, but was once again denied.

That moment heralded the start of a tense and exciting period, as both teams struggled to make their mark and were undermined by too many wides. However, a brace of scores courtesy of Cathal McShane gave Owen Roes hope that they could finish strongly.

Each time, though, Moortown responded. Con Heron got a point to restore their four point advantage, Shaun Conway came agonisingly close to getting the goal that would have sealed the win, and the issue was still very much in doubt entering the closing stages.

But Moortown held firm and late scores from Peter Devlin and then Paul Quinn saw them clinch the title with five to spare.