Back-to-back wait continues as Errigal triumph in Tyrone

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