Ulster Minor Club Championship

[drici]

OMAGH....................0-12


KILCOO....................0-11


By Barry O'Donnell


Young Damien McGloin wrote his name large in the proud history of Omagh St Enda's by striking over a last gasp point deep into extra-time to seal the club's first Ulster minor title in Belfast yesterday afternoon.

His assured finish from the right settled a riveting contest between two evenly matched teams and ensured that the Jimmy McConville Cup, awarded to the winners of this highly-successful St Paul's tournament, went back to Tyrone for only the fourth time since the competition was launched in the early-eighties.

The provincial triumph capped a memorable end to a remarkable odyssey for this group of Omagh teenagers, who have been together for ten years, but rarely will their character and courage have been tested so vigorously.

It also wrote another chapter in the Healy Park outfit's litany of recent underage success stories which makes them the envy of every other club in the County right now.

A distraught Kilcoo side gave their all, yet never once over eighty draining, hard-fought minutes played out on a stamina sapping pitch, did they have the lead.

The official man of the match spoils went to Conan Grugan who was superb around centre field for the victors, but Omagh had heroes scattered over every sector of the field as they fought tooth and nail to stave off the brave resistance of the Mourne champions.

Despite an excellent early point from Ronan O'Neill, whose penetrative runs were a feature of the afternoon, Omagh were generally slow into their stride and were thankful that Kilcoo seemed to have left their shooting boots at home.

The tackling was ferocious and the commitment whole hearted yet nerves were clearly evident as each side struggled to establish any cohesion or fluency. Kilcoo did construct a neat move involving Jerome Johnston and Oliver McClean in the 13th minute which presented the lively Martin Kelly with a great goal chance but he fired over.

However that was to be their solitary score during the first period even though they shaded the possession stakes. With Damon Teague, Darryn Bradley and Stephen Mullan shoring up a solid Omagh defence, Kilcoo struggled for scoring opportunities.

St Enda's were more economical in attack themselves and McGloin tucked over a fine point on the break after being fed by O'Neill in the 20th minute, before the former then created an opening for O'Neill to blast the Red Hand boys two in front. It was an advantage they maintained to the interval. (Half-time Omagh 0-3 Kilcoo 0-1)

The action heated up on the restart with points coming more regularly. Johnston's early free was cancelled out when Omagh sub Cormac O'Neill struck an excellent point from 30m after cutting inside.

However by the 40th minute Kilcoo had restored parity as Johnston slotted over another close range free and Cillian Laverty was on target with an accomplished effort from distance, one of only three scores the Down side managed from open play.

St Enda's were now in a real battle yet adversity seems to bring out the best in this particular group of players and a long range O'Neill free and wonderful point from captain Barry Tierney, who was leading by example, restored their two point cushion again, 0-6 to 0-4.

Darragh O'Hanlon, who grew in influence for Kilcoo when switched up to midfield from his original full-back berth, hoisted two frees from 35m which sandwiched a cool finish by O'Neill at the other end.

With players going down repeatedly with cramp as the underfoot conditions took their toll, Omagh were hanging on desperately to their one point lead, but in the 58th minute O'Hanlon landed a brilliant equaliser to send the match into extra-time at 0-7 apiece.

O'Neill almost pounced for a dramatic goal seconds in but his deflected attempt was palmed away by keeper Daniel Lennon. Still a brace of Grugan frees looked to have put Omagh in the driving seat once more, only for O'Hanlon to retaliate with two dead ball conversions himself.

A stylish finish by Kieran Brannigan shifted Omagh ahead again 0-10 to 0-9 at the short whistle in injury time but Kilcoo weren't done yet as O'Hanlon superbly planted over his fifth free.

It was breathless stuff at this juncture with both sets of players digging deep to try and chisel out a victory. Conor Clarke swivelled to restore St Enda's lead, after good work from O'Neill but back came Kilcoo through that man O'Hanlon once more.

Another period of extra-time looked on the cards but it was to be Omagh's day and with time almost up Brannigan set up McGloin for that incredible winner for the ecstatic Healy Park crew.

[The Doire Geal]

any candidates for the best 15 from the tournament??