ONLY one player before from Omagh CBS has had the honour of climbing the steps at Croke Park to lift the Hogan Cup and Eoin McElholm is hoping he will become the second.
Centre half-back Gareth Haughey from Drumragh was the leader back in 2007 in a side that included current joint-manager Diarmuid McNulty and was co-managed by Noel Donnelly and Ciaran McBride, the latter part of this season’s management team as well.
McElholm and fellow attacker Conor Owens are the only two players in the Omagh side who have played at Headquarters before and they will be hoping for a different result than two years ago when Tyrone lost out to Meath in the All-Ireland minor semi-final.
“There is something different about playing in Croke Park,” admits McElholm.
“You go to watch all those big county games, but when you actually run out onto the field it can come as a bit of a shock. But when you get your hands on the ball it’s grand and you realise it is just like any other pitch.
“It’s great to get the chance to play there in another big final and hopefully we can come out on top.”
Centre half-forward McElholm epitomises all the qualities of this Omagh CBS side. While he may be a very capable score-getter he is prepared to sacrifice his game at times for the good of the side.
“The work-rate within our squad of players is key and that comes from our training,” he said.
“The management just say wee different things and it helps that everyone within the squad are best friends and we have been working hard this past three or four months.”
“When you see one man working hard and busting himself, everyone does the same and thank God that has worked for us so far.
In the Hogan semi the main thing was just to get over the line, but it was good to get a performance as well and now we are all looking forward to St Paddy’s Day.
Summerhill are a very talented team. We saw first-hand against them in a challenge game how good they are and we certainly won’t be taking anything for granted.”
