Ulster club SFC: Tierney goal the difference for Omagh

November 16, 2014

St. Eunan's Darragh Mulgrew and St. Enda's Conor McMahon
©INPHO

Omagh St. Enda's 1-8 (Tyrone)

St. Eunan's (Donegal) 0-8

Barry Tierney's first half goal proved all-important as Omagh St. Enda's withstood a second half comeback from St. Eunan's at Celtic Park to qualify for the Ulster club football final against Slaughtneil.

The O'Neill Cup holders, who took Crossmaglen's scalp in the quarter-final, finished the game with 14 men after Conor Grugan was sent off, but he will be available for the final after receiving two yellow cards.

A Ronan O'Neill brace had Omagh ahead early on, but two points from Cillian Morrison enabled St. Eunan's to move in front. Conor McMahon levelled the scoring before Eunan's 'keeper Sean Patton denied both Cormac O'Neill and Barry Tierney. However, defender Tierney made no mistake a few minutes later and Omagh went on to lead by 1-5 to 0-5 at the interval, despite points in reply from Rory Carr and Conal Dunne.

Jason McAnulla increased the winners' advantage to four points early in the second half, but the loss of county star Joe McMahon to injury hit them hard as the Donegal kingpins cut the gap to the minimum thanks to unanswered points from Rory Kavanagh, Sean McVeigh and Conor Morrison.

However, Conor Mahon responded with a crucial point before St. Eunan's Cillian Morrison missed a late chance to force extra-time when he blazed wide of the goal.

Omagh St. Enda's - R Clarke; H Gallagher, Justin McMahon, S Mullan; C McLaughlin, B Tierney (1-0), C McMahon (0-3); Joe McMahon, C Grugan; A Grugan, J McAnulla (0-1), C O'Neill; C O'Donnell (0-1), R O'Neill (0-3), C Meyler. Subs: C McCarron for Joe McMahon, C Starrs for C O'Neill, D Kerr for C McLaughlin, J Colton for C McMahon.

St. Eunan's - S Patton; C Parke, S Hensey, Conor Morrison (0-1); C Ward, E Doherty, D Mulgrew; K Rafferty, R Kavanagh (0-1); C Gibbons (0-1), C Dunne (0-1f), S McVeigh (0-1); R Carr (0-1f), J Haran, Cillian Morrison (0-2). Subs: M McGowan for S Hensey, M Miller for M McGowan.

Referee - N Mooney.


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