Senior manager Laurence Strain congratulates goal-scorer Jason McAnulla at the end of the game.
OMAGH 1-7 DROMORE 0-9
(Match report courtesy of www.ulsterherald.com)
JASON McAnulla fisted home a dramatic injury time goal at rain-swept Carrickmore on Saturday night as St Enda’s stunned Dromore to reach their first Tyrone Senior Football Championship final since 2005. St. Enda’s opposition in the 2014 Tyrone senior final will be Carrickmore who defeated Ardboe 2-7 to 0-11 in Sunday evening’s second semi-final, making it a repeat of the 2005 decider.
Omagh trailed 0-9 to 0-7 with time almost up after an exciting, but error-strewn, last four clash and looked set for another crushing O’Neill Cup disappointment. However in the 62nd minute McAnulla rose to punch Barry Tierney’s centre past St Dympna’s keeper Peter Ward for the winning goal and keep Omagh on course for their first Senior title since 1988.
The teams were deadlocked three times during a bity and fractious first period, with the score level at 0-3 apiece at the break. Ruairi Sludden (free), Colm McCullagh (free) and Conor O’Neill were the men on target for Dromore, with Conan Grugan (two frees) and McAnulla replying for Omagh.
Despite an early Conor O’Donnell point on the restart, Omagh fell behind 0-6 to 0-4, with the lively Sludden twice slipping over scores. O’Donnell and Grugan drilled over fine Omagh points to restore parity again.
Dromore sub Sean McNabb exchanged points with Ronan O’Neill, but with O’Neill then red carded after picking up a second booking, two late points from Emmet O’Neill and Sludden appeared to have got Dromore over the finishing line, until McAnulla’s stunning late twist in the tale. Omagh will now play the winners of Sunday’s night’s second semi-final between Ardboe and Carrickmore in the decider on the 28th September.
Jason celebrates the winning goal
The ball beats the Dromore keeper to find the net
Barry Tierney prepares to lobb the ball into the path of Jason McAnulla
