TYRONE JFC FINAL: Rock crowned Tyrone Junior champions!

Rock are Tyrone Junior champions for a fourth time after a deserved three point win over Tattyreagh in the final at O’Neill Park in Dungannon on Sunday afternoon.

The winners had experience in abundance and that proved to be a crucial factor against a Tattyreagh side who lead the way at the top of the division three table but where chasing their first championship title at this level.

The sides were level at the break but a 45th minute goal from ‘Man of the Match’ Aidan McGarrity proved to be the decisive score.

Tattyreagh lost their way a little after that and had two players sent off as Rock took the silverware despite having a man sent off late on as well.

McGarrity was in superb form for the winners, finishing with 1-6 to his name while Conor McCreesh weighed in with the winners’ other four points.

James Darcy opened the scoring for Tattyreagh but two well struck long range frees from the boot of McGarrity had Rock in front by the 8 th minute. Four minutes later and Tattyreagh got their goal when they sliced open the Rock defence with Niall McWilliams unlucky to volley the ball to his own net as he attempted to clear the danger. McGarrity and McCreesh kept Rock in touch before Tattyreagh could have had another goal but Colin Harkin blasted over the bar. It was a let off for Rock and McGarrity and McCreesh both scored again to leave it 0-6 to 1-3 at the break.

All Ireland winner, Ciaran Gourley, was introduced by Rock at the start of the second half and he helped them get a stranglehold on proceedings.

McGarrity and Harkin traded points on the restart before Tattyreagh were reduced to 14 men when attacker Joe Cartin picked up a second yellow card. A McGarrity free then gave Rock a lead that they were never to lose before the same player finished to the net after a superb team move.

Johnny Harkin thumped over a long range Tattyreagh free but moments later McCreesh cancelled that out from a placed ball from 48m out. Johnny Harkin kept Tattyreagh in touch but they were then dealt another blow when Sean Gormley was sent off for a second booking only two minutes after being reintroduced as a substitute.

McGarrity then fired over with his weaker left foot and while Rock lost Ryan Crilly to a black card having earlier got a yellow one they had did enough to take the title and now go onto represent Tyrone in the Ulster series.

Rock: Seamus Donaghy, Mark McAleer, Niall Mullan, Aidan Gervin, Cathal McWilliams, Stephen Mullan, Niall McWilliams, Diarmuid Carroll, Enda McWilliams, Tommy Bloomer, Eamon Ward, Conor McCreesh, Ryan Crilly, Aidan McGarrity, Padraig Ward. Subs - Ciaran Gourley for Padraig Ward, Paudie O’Neill for Niall Mullan

Scorers: Aidan McGarrity 1-6, Conor McCreesh 0-4

Tattyreagh: Niall Keys, Darren Mullan, John Gilmurray, Declan Gallagher, Brendan Armstrong, Chris McCarroll, Eoghain Murray, Sean Gormley, Johnny Harkin, James Darcy, Colin Harkin, Robert Porter, Gareth Mimnagh, Ciaran Harkin, Joe Cartin. Subs – Eoin McGinn for Porter, Duncan Hyndman for Gormley, Sean Gormley for Mimnagh, Damien Mullan for Colin Harkin (black card)

Scorers: Colin Harkin 0-3, Niall McWilliams 1-0 og, Johnny Harkin 0-2, James Darcy 0-2

Referee: Donal Dorman (Brocagh)