LCC Group Tyrone SFC quarter-final: Carrickmore 0-10 Loughmacrory 0-9
Goalkeeper Jack McCallan was the derby day hero as Carrickmore edged out parish rivals Loughmacrory to book their place in the Tyrone SFC semi-finals.
He drilled a winning ’45 between the posts in the fourth minute of stoppage time to settle a dogged battle, denying the St Teresa’s a first ever competitive win over their neighbours.
It was looking good for Carmen was they built up a four points lead with the wind in their faces, but Loughmacrory displayed true grit and passion to battle their way back level in the closing stages.
Two determined sets of defenders stood firm as every ball was ferociously contested throughout an encounter that engrossed the large Plunkett Park crowd.
Loughmacrory’s brave challenge fell just short, while for their opponents, it’s a last four clash with Clonoe next weekend.
Carrickmore, playing into the wind, led by 0-3 to 0-1 at the end of the opening quarter, with James Donaghy, Martin Penrose and Caolan Daly on target.
But the Lough posed a threat on the break, and a goal chance fell to Cathal Donaghy as Cathaoir Gallagher provided the assist, but the unmarked midfielder drilled his shot wide.
It was a warning for a Carmen side that stretched the lead through Lorcan McGarrity, before being reeled back in as goalkeeper Oisin O’Kane, from a free, and Cathaoir Gallagher (2) brought the sides level by the 26th minute.
Penrose and wing back Ruairi Slane tagged on points to send Carrickmore in with a 0-6 to 0-4 interval lead, and with the wind in their backs, they opened out a four points gap, Penrose sweeping over his third.
The former Tyrone attacker could have made life easier for his side, but failed to capitalise on a goal opportunity, and again the Loughmacrory men dug deep, with Cathal Donaghy providing the power from midfield, and sparking the comeback with a well taken score.
Further points from Gareth Donaghy and Pauraic Meenagh (2) tied it up at 0-8 each with three minutes to play, and they were still deadlocked going into stoppage time, as McGarrity and Meenagh traded points.
It was in the fourth minute of added time, with what proved to be the last kick of the game, that McCallan struck the ball sweetly between the uprights from the 45 metre line to break the hearts of neighbours.
Carrickmore scorers: Martin Penrose 0-3 (1 free, 1 mark), Lorcan McGarrity 0-2 (2 frees), Caolan Daly, James Donaghy, Ruairi Slane, Jack McCallan (’45), Aidan Fullerton 0-1 each.
Loughmacrory scorers: Pauraic Meenagh 0-4 (2 frees, 1 mark), Cathaoir Gallagher 0-2 (1 free), Cathal Donaghy, Oisin O’Kane (free), Gareth Donaghy (mark) 0-1 each.
Carrickmore: J McCallan (0-1, ’45); S Loughran, L McBride, S Sweeney; N Allison, R Donnelly, R Slane (0-1); J Munroe, R Loughran; A Fullerton (0-1), J Donaghy (0-1), C Munroe; C Daly (0-1), M Penrose (0-3, 1f, 1m), Lorcan McGarrity (0-2, 2f).
Subs: B Conway for Donaghy, D Fullerton for A Fullerton, M Donnelly for C Munroe, M Donaghy for Daly, C Munroe for Slane.
Loughmacrory: O O’Kane (0-1, f); R Fox, N Kelly, D Curran; A Fox, P Grimes, E Mullan; A Donaghy, C Donaghy (0-1); S Dobbs, C Logue, P Meenagh (0-4, 2f, 1m); C Gallagher (0-2, 1f), S Grimes, C Grimes.
Subs: G Donaghy (0-1, m) for Logue, L Meenan for Stephen Grimes, Shane Grimes for R Fox, Logue for P Grimes.
Referee: C Forbes (Ardboe).
