Senior replays promise more excitement

EVEN by the standards of the famously dramatic Tyrone Senior Championship, last weekend was a humdinger.

Where to start, even? Killyclogher salvaged their campaign with an injury-time goal (again) against Carrickmore last Friday, with the matter to be settled in this evening’s replay encounter at O’Neill’s Healy Park – even if it takes extra-time and penalties.

A chapter of a book could be devoted to Saturday afternoon’s quarter-final clash between Dungannon and Loughmacrory. Amid the maelstrom of an unforgettable second-half, the Clarkes came from five points down against an Eoin McElholm-inspired Loughmacrory to book their spot in the semi-finals.

Trillick and Ardboe took to the field on Sunday for the third quarter-final of the weekend. This time, a mere two points separated the teams at the final whistle as the reigning champions set up a second successive semi-final clash against Dungannon. If it’s half as entertaining as their previous meetings in recent years, we’re in for a treat.

Then in the fourth and final quarter, played in front of a bumper crowd at O’Neill Park, Dungannon, Clonoe defied expectations with a stirring performance to hold Errigal Ciaran to a draw. They’ll be back in Dungannon on Saturday evening – and so will thousands of spectators.

Nerve-shredding stuff for all involved, but Carrickmore joint-manager Noel Slane found himself able to derive some enjoyment from their helter-skelter clash against Killyclogher last Friday night.

“Look, it was a brilliant game to be involved in, we were very very clear that Killyclogher are a team that would not quit, it’s not in their DNA. We knew they would keep coming, we saw it against Omagh, they wouldn’t let it go and kept fighting until the last play and they did the same against us.

“On balance we thought we had the game sewn up but listen, you play to the final whistle and they got the rub of the green and fair play to them.

“It was an unbelievable game to watch in terms of intensity and hits, and the ref let lots of stuff go, and that worked for a good spectacle in terms of the game. We’ve got another opportunity, we’re both in and still swinging, we’ll see next Thursday night for the replay.”

Carrickmore have had to operate without a number of key names who are sidelined with long-term injuries, including their captain Sean Loughran who was forced off early on in their first-round win over Dromore. Slane acknowledges their bad luck but says that the team are determined not to use it as an excuse.

“Sean’s gone for the year and that’s disappointing, Sean’s our captain and a big loss to us. Jonathan Munroe is out for a year as well, Oran McKee was Tyrone Senior Hurling captain and he got an injury, and Ciaran Daly has a knee injury.

“It’s been unfortunate but listen, the boys who have stepped in have done a brilliant job and are very determined and have played their role in stepping into the breach.”