Tyrone SHC Final: Carrickmore 1-7 Killyclogher 0-8
CARRICKMORE won their first Tyrone Senior Hurling Championship title since 1989 last night when they edged out favourites Killyclogher in a tense and exciting decider at Omagh.
Memories of the all-conquering eight-in-a-row side of the '80s were revived as the Eire Ogs picked up their 13th championship crown, thanks to a second half goal from Cahal Hurson and some excellent points by Oliver Kerr.
The first-half had developed into a personal battle between free takers Damien McCallion and Carrickmore’s Kerr by the time Gary Burns scored the game’s first point from play after 20 minutes to bring Killyclogher level at 0- 3 each.
There was never more than a point between the sides in that tense opening period, with Carrickmore just about shading the contest. And they went in at the break with a slender 0-4 to 0-3 lead after Cahal Hurson put them back in front a minute before half time.
And they made the best possible start to the second half when Hurson finished an Oliver Kerr delivery to the net inside the opening 20 seconds.
But McCallion kept chipping away at Carrickmore’s lead with some fine scores from frees and play, including a massive effort from inside his own half.
He reduced the deficit to just a point with two minutes left to play, but Carrickmore sensed the danger and managed to swing the game back in their favour at a crucial time.
Peter Kerr drilled over the insurance point in the final minute and Carrickmore were once again the premier force in Tyrone hurling.
Killyclogher: B Burns, G Cochrane, M Hegarty, A McAleer, M Kelly, V Owens, M Maguire, B O’Neill (0-1), D McCallion (0-6), P O’Kane, C Quinn, S O’Kane, G Burns (0- 1), T McCann, P Quinn.
Subs: S Bradley for P Quinn, O McKenna for Bradley, S O’Neill for McAleer.
Carrickmore: J Kelly, E Hughes, P Sweeney, F Daly, P Doyle, G Hurson, C Gormley, N Hurson, J Kerr, Paul Hughes, Pauric Hughes, O Kerr (0-4), C Hurson (1- 1), P Kerr (0-2), A Slane.
Subs: D Sweeney for Slane, B Daly for N Hurson.
Referee: S Quinn (Brackaville)
GARY Lough surely earned himself a Commonwealth Games ticket after running 3.40.08 at a British Milers Club meeting in Watford on Wednesday evening.
Lough was controversially left off the initial selection by Northern Ireland athletics bosses after struggling for form in the early part of the season.
Meanwhile Dermot Donnelly will learn tomorrow whether he has earned a place in the British team for the European championships.
The British squad will be finalised tomorrow with Donnelly hoping to be added to the 5000m selection after achieving the qualifying standard in Holland last weekend with a Northern Ireland record of 13.27.
FERGUS McCann yesterday moved to heal a rift between him and some of Celtic’s supporters – particularly the Irish. Some fans from these shores were angry at reported remarks that apparently labeled them as “bigots”.
Mr McCann yesterday declared that he was not saying supporters from Ireland were “bigoted”.
“People from that part of the world started this club 110 years ago and we are not down on fans because they are Irish or Catholics,” he said.
“What we are saying is the club is open to to everyone. Perhaps that has not been fully understood.”
