Errigal Ciaran 2-11 Carrickmore 1-12
Errigal Ciaran got the better of old rivals Carrickmore to claim their first Tyrone SFC title in a decade, holding on for a slender two points win in a gripping decider at O'Neill's Healy Park.
Goals from Padraig McGirr and Joe Oguz were the vital scores that swung the contest in their favour as the Red Hand series came to a typically enthralling conclusion.
They led by seven points at one stage, but Carmen’s famous fighting spirit dragged them back into it, and a goal from former Tyrone attacker Martin Penrose helped them close the gap to two.
But the men from Dunmoyle had all the class, with the young Canavan brothers leading the way as they pulled clear in the closing stages.
Carrickmore suffered a pre-match blow with the loss of influential midfielder Jonny Munroe due to injury, with Errigal also forced to field without experienced full back Aidan McCrory.
It was Carrickmore who felt the pressure of a major reshuffle, forced to move full back Lorcan McBride to the central area, but they held their own in the opening quarter, with Daniel Fullerton sending over a couple of fine score, and McBride proving his worth as a finisher as he rounded off a move involving James Donaghy, Ruairi Slane and Sean Loughran.
Teenager Ruairi Canavan slotted over a couple of brilliant scores, with Peter Harte also on target, and they were tied on 0-03 each after a quarter of an hour.
But the second quarter belonged to Errigal as they stepped up the intensity, and the Canavan brothers began to work their magic.
Ben McDonnell galloped through for a point, Mark Kavanagh added another and Ruairi Canavan sent brother Darragh through to put four between the sides, when with a little more composure he could have had a goal.
Carrickmore’s only reply was a Fullerton free, and in first half stoppage time, all the space opened up for Errigal as Darragh Canavan and Harte sliced open the Carricmore defence and Padraig McGirr arrived to collect and beat goalkeeper Jack McCallan with a low finish at the butt of a post.
That goal sent them in with a commanding 1-08 to 0-04 interval lead, but Carrickmore hit back with a goal two minutes into the second half.
Lorcan McGarrity displayed immense tenacity to dispossess Cormac Quinn, and it was 38-year-old former Tyrone attacker Maetin Penrose who accepted the pass to bury his shot past Darragh McAnenly.
With the wind now in their backs, Carmen found a fresh wave of energy, first to the ball and strong in the challenge as they swept forward in waves of attack.
Points from Penrose, Lorcan McGarrity and Ruairi Slane closed the gap to two, but in the 45th minute, Errigal conjured a memorable goal, all mde possible by the magic of Darragh Canavan, who flicked the ball perfectly into the path of Joe Oguz, and without breaking his stride he rifled the ball to the net.
Back came Carrickmore gain with their famous never-say-die spirit, and scores from former Tyrone attacker Mark Donnelly and Fullerton trimmed it back to two.
That was as close as they got, as Errigal held out for their eighth title and a crack at Derry champions Glen in the Ulster Club SFC.
Errigal Ciaran: D McAnenly; Cormac, N Kelly, D Morrow; Ciaran Quinn, B McDonnell (0-01), P Og McCartan; P O'Hanlon, P Harte (0-01), M Kavanagh (0-02), T Canavan (0-01, f), P McGirr (1-00); R Canavan (0-02), D Canavan (0-03, 1f), J Oguz (1-01).
Subs: P Traynor for Morrow (33), E Kelly for O’Hanlon (45), C Corrigan for Kavanagh (52), C McGinley for McGirr (61)
Carrickmore: J McCallan; S Sweeney, J Donaghy, S Loughran; N Allison, R Donnelly, R Slane (0-01); L McBride (0-01), C Munroe; D Fullerton (0-06, 5f), A Fullerton, S Donnelly; L McGarrity (0-02, 1f, 1m), M Penrose (1-01), C Daly.
Subs: B Conway for Loughran (h-t), R Loughran for Daly (h-t), M Donnelly (0-01) for S Donnelly (47), M Donaghy for A Fullerton (56), B McLaughlin for Slane (59)
Referee: S Campbell (Stewartstown).
