Omagh St Endas were crowned 2014 county champions after completing a smash and grab raid at the end of a pulsating county final on Sunday afternoon. A late Ronan O’Neill goal overturned a one point deficit and ensured the O’Neill Cup would be going back to Healy Park after a gap of twenty six years.
The sides were level five times in the first half as Carrickmore reached the break 0-8 to 0-6 in front. Omagh looked strong in the first half defending well as a unit and breaking with pace as they sought to deny Carrickmore space in their forward line. Aaron Grugan , Joe Mc Mahon and Conor Meyler ensured that chances were kept to a minimum while their ability to break with speed had the Carrickmore defence in trouble at times.
Omagh dominated the midfield battle for long periods of the first period with Conan Grugan in outstanding form. However that dominance dissipated when Conor Gormley was switched onto Grugan. Carrickmore produced their best football of the first half after that and came close to finding the net when Niall Loughran got onto the end of a pass from Martin Penrose. The midfieler’s flicked ball struck the post and ran along the goal line before being cleared. Carrickmore did manage to add two late points from Paul Mc Aleer and Ruairi Loughran to send them in two in front at the break.
A Ronan O’Neill free five minutes into the second half closed the gap to a point but Carmen corner forward Paul Mc Aleer restored the two point differential within thirty seconds. The game remained close with both sides struggling to create chances. Carrickmore defender Johnny Munroe received a second yellow card following a clash with Conor Meyler and on such a warm afternoon the loss of a man would prove crucial. Omagh scored three points in a row from Ronan O’Neill, Joe Mc Mahon and man of the match Barry Tierney to put them one in front with six minutes remaining. Martin Penrose responded for Carrickmore to tie the game and when he landed his side’s eleventh point in the sixtieth minute it seemed that Omagh’s long wait for a championship title was set to continue.
However a long speculative pass from substitute Cathal Mc Carron made its way through to Ronan O’Neill and the county man finished to the net to send the black and white supporters delirious. Carrickmore pressed for a match saving score but Omagh were not to be denied and held on for a 1-10 to 0-12 win.
The post Omagh Bridge 26 Year Gap To Lift Title appeared first on Tyrone GAA News.