Tyrone SHC Final: Éire Óg win again
Éire Óg 2-15 defeated Eoghan Ruadh in the Tyrone SHC Final.
Tyrone SHC Final
Eire Óg Carrickmore 2-15 Eoghan Ruadh 0-18
By Francis Mooney at O'Neill's Healy Park
Éire Óg Carrickmore’s era of dominance was extended by a further 12 months as they picked up a sixth successive Tyrone SHC title in a dramatic finish at O’Neills Healy Park.
Seamus Sweeney grabbed a stoppage time goal to get the champions over the line, stunning perennial rivals Eoghan Ruadh.
Dungannon led by a point as the clock ticked towards the final minute, but the experienced champions dug deep to keep themselves in contention and find the killer blow.
Eire Óg made the early running with points from Shea Munroe and Aidy Kelly, but once Dungannon got into their stride, they stretched their opponents with the clever movement of Leo Hughes, Cain Ferguson and Sheehan Fay.
Mickey Little steered over a couple of frees, with Hughes also on target, and they were able to keep their noses in front despite Kellys’ accuracy from placed balls.
Lorcan Devlin and Fay added scores, and it was Ferguson who stretched the advantage to three, while it could have been more, but for Conor McElhatton’s excellent save from Hughes.
The holders were overly dependent on Kelly for scores, while Dungannon carried a greater threat, Fergal Donaghy on target to send them in at the break with a 0-11 to 0-7 advantage.
Lorcan Devlin’s superb point had Eoghan Ruadh five ahead, before the holders reeled off four points, all from their main man Kelly, to narrow the gap to a single point by the start of the final quarter.
They went in front when Shea Munroe flicked Dean Rafferty’s long range free to the net in the 47th minute
Dungannon’s response was strong, as they hit four in a row, going back in front with a Cain Ferguson point.
The champions showed steel in the closing stages, with Dermot Begley a rock at the back, and Kelly fetching a couple of mighty balls at midfield.
Shea Munroe brought them level, and in the 64th minute, they struck gold as Seamus Sweeney flashed home the winning goal after ‘keeper John Devlin had saved from Munroe.
Scorers for Eire Og: S Munroe 1-2, S Sweeney 1-0, A Kelly 0-8 (6fs), B McGurk, D Begley (2f) 0-2 each, C Grogan 0-1.
Scorers for Eoghan Ruadh: M Little 0-7 (7fs), C Ferguson, L Devlin, T Mullin, F Donaghy 0-2 each, L Hughes, C McNally, S Fay 0-1 each.
Eoghan Ruadh: J Devlin; R Devlin, C Molloy, R Weir; T Morgan, C McNally, F Devlin; C Devlin, L Devlin; R O’Sullivan, S Fay, F Donaghy; L Hughes, C Ferguson, M Little.
Subs: C Bell for McNally (44), T Mullin for O’Sullivan (44), J McCann for Weir (48), K Morgan for Ferguson (55), B Molloy for Hughes (55)
Eire Og: C McElhatton; C Kerr, D Begley, C McKee; S Munroe, B McGurk, D Rafferty; A Crossan, C Munroe; C Grogan, A Kelly, S Sweeney; O Daly, S Og Grogan, A Woods.
Subs: J Kelly for Daly (38), Cahir Munroe for S Og Grogan (53), C McCrystal for Crossan (54)
Referee: C McDonald (Antrim).
