Errigal Ciaran 0-12 Trillick 1-08
Errigal Ciaran avenged last year's Tyrone SFC final defeat to reclaim the O’Neill Cup in a gripping decider at O’Neills Healy Park.
And in doing so, they thwarted Trillick’s bid to become the first team to retain the trophy in almost 20 years.
Ruairi Canavan led the challengers to victory with a six-point tally, while a towering midfield display from Joe Oguz powered the Dunmoyle men to their second success in three years.
The toughest championship in the country to win has eluded every single defending champion since Carrickmore completed successive titles in 2005.
But the weather-enforced delay means the newly crowned Red Hand champions have only a week to prepare for their Ulster Club opener against a St Eunan’s, Letterkenny side that will enjoy the luxury of a three-week lead-in to the preliminary round tie.
Trillick, with the wind in their backs, went two ahead inside the opening ten minutes, Lee Brennan and Mattie Donnelly on target, and a well organised defensive system closed down their opponents, until Darragh Canavan, a major pre-match injury doubt, got Errigal off the mark.
Younger brother Ruairi brought the sides level from a free, and there was nothing between the sides in a closely fought opening quarter, with Brennan and Peter Og McCartan, with a long-range effort, treading points.
But as Oguz began to influence the midfield battle, Errigal started to show their class, Ruairi Canavan’s cheeky dummy was matched by the finish, and as half-time approached, Ben McDonnell edged them two ahead.
Mattie Donnelly drove the Trillick response with strong running and effective support play, heavily involved in scores for James Garrity and Brennan to bring the sides level.
But a trademark Darragh Canavan point sent the Dunmoyle men in with a narrow 0-07 to 0-06 advantage.
Errigal were gradually building themselves into a position of control, with Peter Harte, Oguz, McDonnell and Niall Kelly leading waves of attack.
Trillick were putting out fires, struggling to contain an opponent attacking from all angles, and a run of four points on the spin, two of them from Ruairi Canavan, opened out a four-point lead by the 40th minute.
Assured in defence as well, they forced a string of turnovers as the holders looked increasingly vulnerable.
But the game took another twist at the beginning of the final quarter.
After Mattie Donnelly had pulled back an inspirational point, Stevie O’Donnell sent Ciaran Daly in for an angled finish to the net, and the sides were level.
With ten minutes left on the clock, Ruairi Canavan regained the lead for the challengers, and their defensive discipline and game management saw them through, with the help of vital turnovers from Eoin Kelly and Oguz.
Errigal Ciaran: D McAnenly; Cormac Quinn, A McCrory, Ciaran Quinn; T Colhoun, N Kelly, P Og McCartan (0-01); B McDonnell (0-01), J Oguz; C McGinley, P Harte (0-01, 0-01f), P McGirr; D Canavan (0-02), O Robinson (0-01), R Canavan (0-06, 0-03fs).
Subs: T Canavan for McGinley (39), M Kavanagh for Colhoun (ht), E Kelly for McCartan (55), P Traynor for McGirr (57).
Trillick: J Maguire; Stevie O’Donnell, P McCaughey, D Gallagher; C Garrity, R Brennan, Seanie O’Donnell; R Donnelly, L Gray; C Daly (1-00), M Donnelly (0-02), R Gray (0-02); D Donnelly, L Brennan (0-03, 0-03fs), J Garrity (0-01).
Subs: M Gallagher for R Gray (46), D Tunney for Stevie O’Donnell (59).
Referee: S Hurson (Galbally).
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