Coalisland 2-11 Killyclogher 1-07
Coalisland won their tenth Tyrone SFC title thanks to a dominant second half performance against Killyclogher in Healy Park in a repeat of the 2016 final.
This time they turned the tables with the help of goals from Paddy McNeice and Peter McGahan, coming from behind to win with plenty to spare.
Tiernan McCann’s first half goal had Killyclogher in control, but they were unable to resist a resurgent Fianna side after the break.
Killyclogher frustrated the Fianna attack for long spells of the first half, setting up with a swarm defence and breaking at pace to pick off scores.
After Mark Bradley had got them going with a spectacular effort, they added scores through Aidy Kelly, Simon O’Neill and Conall McCann, from a ’45.
Coalisland failed to score from play in the opening period, but they kept in touch with the place-kicking of Brian Toner and Paddy McNeice, and the sides were level on four occasions.
But Killyclogher carried a goal threat, Bradley and Matthew Murnaghan failing to put away chances, before Tiernan McCann did hit the net in stoppage time.
He ran on from midfield, exchanging passes with brother Conall as he went at pace, before finishing low past Peter Donnelly.
Killyclogher led by 1-4 to 0-5 at the break, but they were dealt a double blow when Coalisland grabbed two goals in the space of two minutes.
Bradley had just kicked the St Mary’s into a three points lead from a free when the Fianna struck gold. In the 11th minute, skipper Stephen McNally saw a shot drop short, and as goalkeeper Sean Fox parried, Paddy McNeice got in to poke the ball home from close range.
Two minutes later, Niall Kerr provided the searching delivery which was collected by full-forward Peter McGahan, and he swivelled to hit the bottom corner of the net.
Now three ahead, Damian O’Hagan’s side never looked back. They dominated the remainder of the game and held Killyclogher scoreless throughout the final quarter.
McNeice and Cormac O’Hagan drilled frees between the posts, and there were a couple of spectacular scores from substitute Tiarnan Quinn as they avenged a heavy defeat to Killyclogher in the 2016 county final replay.
Coalisland: P Donnelly; D Fee, P Hampsey, E Hampsey; M McKernan, S McNally, N Kerr; J Carberry, P Kane (0-01); P Herron, C O’Hagan (0-02, 2f), B Toner (0-02, 2f); B Leonard (0-01), P McGahan (1-00), P McNeice (1-03, 0-3f).
Subs: T Quinn (0-02) for Toner, C Quinn for Herron, S Hughes for McGahan, P O’Farrell for Kerr
Killyclogher: S Fox; M Swift, D Gorman, E Bradley; M Murnaghan, G Wallace, G Sludden; N McFadden, T McCann (1-00), A Kelly (0-01), C McCann (0-01, ’45), N Donnelly; S O’Neill (0-01), M Bradley (0-03, 2f), E McFadden.
Subs: PT Cunningham (0-01, f) for O’Neill, F Meenagh for E Bradley, T Cox for N McFadden, J Carlin for Kelly, D Leonard for Cox (BC)
Referee: Sean Hurson (Galbally)
