Loughmacrory win thriller to reach first Tyrone final

Loughmacrory are through to their first Tyrone SFC final after beating Carrickmore 1-16 to 4-6 in their semi-final replay at Healy Park.

It's the first time that Loughmacrory have beaten their 'parish rivals' in the championship, with Ruairi McCullagh recovering from missing a late penalty, to kick the match winning two-point score.

Martin Boyle's side led by four points at various stages of the game, whilst Carrickmore would not lead until the 61st minute with Tiernan Loughran netting a penalty for his second major of the game before McCullagh's late salvo saw Loughmacrory through.

They now advance to their maiden final, where they will meet Trillick, who will compete in their third decider in a row, on Sunday, 26 October at Healy Park.

As expected for a parish derby, there was a frantic start to the game and Loughmacrory had the ball in the back of the net after just 90 seconds.

Gareth Donaghy's shot cannoned off the post and into the hands of Cathaoir Gallagher, who fired to the bottom corner of the net.

Cathal Donaghy added a point, but then at the other end, Carrickmore struck back.

Oran McKee hit the post after a marauding run and the ball fell into the hands of Aidan Woods, who made no mistake in firing to the net to make it 1-1 to 1-0 after just seven minutes.

Despite the fast start to the game, for the rest of the half scores were at a premium and Loughmacrory went in leading 1-4 to 1-3 at half-time.

Lorcan McGarrity levelled the sides within minutes of the restart, before Loughmacrory rattled off four scores on the bounce.

Midway through the second half, the game seemed to be slipping away from Carrickmore, before McGarrity unleashed an unstoppable effort to the top left-hand corner of the net from 20 metres, breathing life into his side's cause.

Donaghy replied with a score, before Eoin McElholm landed a two-pointer to restore his side's four-point advantage.

However, like many teams in the past have found out, Carrickmore are never out, until the final whistle sounds, McGarrity this time the architect, slipping through Tiarnan Loughran to finish low under Oisin O'Kane.

The real drama would come in the final minutes. Declan Grimes in the Carrickmore goal spilled a long ball from Dara Curran, Gallagher latched onto it and was fouled.

McCullagh stepped up to take the penalty but had his spot kick expertly saved by Grimes.

From the very next attack, Pierce Byrne would have a goal bound effort saved and he was then fouled when gathering the loose ball.

Loughran dispatched the penalty to give Carrickmore the lead for the first time, with one minute of the additional four played.

But McCullagh would prove to be the hero, kicking a two-pointer to snatch the victory, a moment of redemption for the young forward as he set up a final date with Trillick later this month.

Loughmacrory: Oisin O'Kane; Dara Curran, Nathan Kelly, Arnoldas Macidulskas; Shane Dobbs (0-1), Ronan Fox, Shea Conway; Aodhan Donaghy (0-1), Cathal Donaghy (0-1); Gareth Donaghy (0-3), Eoin McElholm (0-2 2pt), Cathaoir Gallagher (1-2); Pauraic Meenagh (0-2 2f), Ruairi McCullagh (0-4 1f, 2pt), Michael McNamee.

Subs: Enda Donaghy for R Fox (58), Ryan Grimley for S Conway (63)

Carrickmore: Declan Grimes; Seamus Sweeney, Oran McKee, Mattie McCallan; Niall Allison, Ruairi Loughran, Cormac Munroe; Lorcan McBride, Jonathan Munroe (0-2); James Donaghy (0-1), Rory Donnelly, Tiarnan McGarrity; Aidan Woods (1-0), Lorcan McGarrity (1-2 1f), Tiarnan Loughran (2-1 1pen).

Subs: Collum McCrory for T McGarrity (38), Pierce Byrne for A Woods (49), Caolan Daly for N Allison (55), Conan McElduff for J Munroe (58)