Latest news with #OmaghCBS
Irish Examiner
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Heartbroken Kerry boss Quillinan sore over late 'no-brainer' free
A 'no-brainer' of a free was Kerry boss Wayne Quillinan's verdict on the series of late challenges Ben Kelliher was subjected to that brought about no equalising placed-ball attempt. The four allotted minutes of injury-time had come and gone when Kelliher was fed in the left corner. Elliott Kerr was first to tackle him, the Tyrone corner-back approaching from behind and wrapping both hands around the Kerry corner-forward. Kelliher broke free, Kerr and centre-back James Daly both then tackling him, with Daly's left hand firmly pressed on Kelliher's back as he attempted to dispossess him with the right hand. Kelliher wound up on the deck, no whistle sounded, and Tyrone were crowned champions. 'The penalty for Tyrone, I didn't quite see it rightly but, if I say what I feel, I will probably get reprimanded. I thought the free at the end was a no-brainer,' said a devastated Quillinan. 'I mean, that wasn't a hard decision at all but, unfortunately, the ref didn't blow the whistle, and we suffer the consequences now from it. Not just both teams, I would say all the supporters would have loved extra-time, and that's the beauty of minor football.' Quillinan's post-match thoughts - the aforementioned end-game aside - took in the bigger picture. He poured praise on his young troops and poured praise on all those that packed in behind them on the run-in to the county's first minor final appearance in four years. 'They've shown every characteristic you want from a young team; never-say-die attitude, never quitting, never letting up no matter what situation they're in. 'The last week in Kerry has been unbelievable, with the seniors starting it off, and just the support we got, the amount of messages, so much goodwill. We just got to realise in Kerry that we are stronger together. Everyone rowing in together and rowing in at Croke Park next Saturday for the seniors. Those minors showed everything that Kerry is about. 'I am absolutely heartbroken. But on the flipside, I am so proud of them. Those guys left it all out there. How can you complain about that? You just can't.' The bigger picture was taken in too by victorious Tyrone manager Gerard Donnelly. This victory stood not in isolation. It stood instead amid a deluge of underage success. Over the past four seasons, Tyrone have won a minor All-Ireland, three U20 All-Irelands, and back-to-back Hogan Cups through Omagh CBS. A remarkable return in such a short period. 'Clubs, schools, development squads; it's all flying. Long may it continue,' said Donnelly. 'Absolutely, no doubt about it [we're going to see a lot of these lads progress to senior], these games are something else. They're special. The only sad thing for us is that the season is over. 'That Kerry team is unbelievable. Wayne Quillinan is an unbelievable man, an unbelievable manager, and a great friend. I feel for him because I was there four years ago, beaten by a point in an All-Ireland final. And it's not that easy getting back, but I know Wayne and I know the way Kerry operate - he'll be back and he'll win his All-Ireland.' The achievement of Donnelly and crew was heightened by the absence of Joel Kerr. The multi-code talent took up a professional contract with Premier League club West Ham earlier this week. Kerr's value to the Tyrone set-up is reflected in his Ulster final man of the match performance, his vital green flag in the semis win over Roscommon, and the 2-13 total he contributed before having to bow out six days before the decider. 'We knew that from July 1 he was a West Ham player. Me and his father had constant chats. Joel is a West Ham player, he's away now starting his career. I just chatted to him there. He's the happiest man going,' Donnelly concluded.
Irish Times
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Tyrone deserving favourites to extend underage dominance
All-Ireland MFC Final: Kerry v Tyrone, St Conleth's Park, Newbridge, Sunday, 1.30pm – Live TG4 The power of Tyrone's underage conveyor belt continues to impress. This year, they won a third under-20 All-Ireland in four seasons to go with Omagh CBS's two Hogan Cups in the past three years. Now, the minors are in the Electric Minor Ireland All-Ireland, looking for a first win in 15 years. Kerry are the first non-Ulster side to make the final in three years and are after a first title since the five-in-a-row sequence concluded seven years ago. They won a classic semi-final against Mayo, surviving a late comeback with a huge contribution from Ben Kelliher of 0-9, seven from play. Like Kerry, Tyrone are unbeaten so far, but have a personnel problem with the gifted Joel Kerr having signed for English soccer club West Ham, effective from July 1st. Frantic negotiations have been ongoing against a pessimistic backdrop. The Ulster champions have, however, had prolific inputs from Peter Colton and Eoin Long and have enjoyed the benefits of training with the under-20s and seniors in Garvaghy. READ MORE They deserve to be favourites even on a form line through Cavan who they beat more comfortably in the provincial final than Kerry managed later in the All-Ireland series. Verdict: Tyrone
Irish Daily Mirror
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Eoin McElholm's jawdropping scoring stats as Tyrone end Louth All-Ireland dream
With three All-Ireland under-20 football titles in four years the Tyrone conveyor belt is rolling at a serious pace again - and the others better watch out. More Sam Maguires seem certain to follow. The last time Tyrone had a run of underage success like this - 1997-2001 - landing two All-Ireland under-21 titles and two minor All-Irelands - we all know what happened. Stephen O'Neill happened. Sean Cavanagh happened. Conor Gormley happened. Philip Jordan happened. Kevin Hughes happened. Enda McGinley happened. Owen Mulligan happened. And we could go on Their talismanic leader from those sides, the late Cormac McAnallen, who passed away in 2004, captained Tyrone to win that 2000 All-Ireland under-21 title, just over 25 years ago. It's hard to believe the Tyrone captain passed away a quarter of a century ago, but his spirit was alive and well in Armagh City this evening. In Eoin McElholm Tyrone have an absolute gem. The Loughmacrory club man added another 2-4 from play in an All-Ireland Final to go with 0-7 from play in last year's under-20 final victory over Kerry and 2-5 in Omagh CBS' 2023 Hogan Cup Final win over Summerhill (Sligo). That's 4-16 from play in three All-Ireland finals, averaging out at just over nine points per final. Let that sink in. Talk about star quality and doing it on the big day. Tyrone fans will be praying they AFL snipers, who have already been in touch, don't come to pick off their prime assassin. McElholm had a Robin to his Batman at the Athletic Grounds this evening as Tyrone ran out 5-16 to 0-17 victors, or maybe McElholm was the Robin to Noah Grimes Batman. Grimes hit an unbelievable 2-6 from play as the dynamic duo shot 4-10 from play between them. Louth struggled to get a hand on the quicksilver pair to even foul them. And what an achievement for former Tyrone All-Ireland finalist and Ulster Championship winning player, Paul Devlin, to surpass Mickey Harte and Danny Ball's two All-Ireland under-21 triumphs and do it three times. Devlin said afterwards: 'The last three finals we've turned up in the final.' That was exactly it. Tyrone looked entirely at home with the occasion where Louth looked jittery, and it wasn't that they played poorly. Their midfield pair James Maguire and Sean Callaghan dominated the skys and scored some sublime points, but it was what happened on the ground that counted most. As soon as Tyrone got any measure of parity on the kickouts they made hay to run out 14 points victors. They were utterly ruthless. When Louth snatched at goal chances, Darragh Dorian blazing one gilt edge opportunity off the crossbar and Tyrone skipper Joey Clarke taking another off the line, Tyrone went straight up the other end and scored points. Those two incidents, both early in the second half, amounted to an eight point swing. Had Louth hit the net with both of them they would have been 2-13 to 2-9 ahead after 41 minutes. There can be no arguing with the winners though, and you'd fancy Tyrone would have mustered a response, so composed and well drilled were they, but that would have tested them. McElholm twice steadied himself, showing that rare poise that marks a player out, and rolled low to the corner of the net for goals. Grimes' finishes for his two goals were also coolness personified. Tyrone are doing some line in slippery as an eel inside forward man. For McElholm and Grimes see Darragh and Ruairi Canavan, or Darren McCurry. The small inside man is certainly back again with the three-up rule. And Tyrone made hay here with some outstanding defending and lightning quick breaks off turnovers that created acres of space for McElholm and Grimes to do their thing. The amount of Tyrone players who could use both hands and both feet to jink and weave in tight areas was notable too, as was their pace and athleticism. McElholm is a star in the making and plenty of others will follow the likes of 2022 All-Ireland winning under-20 captain Niall Devlin, Seanie O'Donnell and Ciaran Daly into the senior starting line-up soon enough. Devlin, Daly, O'Connell, and last year's All-Ireland under-20 winner Cormac Devlin, all started in last weekend's All-Ireland round robin victory over Donegal at Ballybofey. Louth weren't without their chances, with goalie Tiernan Markey having a couple of two point frees in the first half that tailed left and wide and those goal efforts. But Tyrone were operating on a different level and one that should have the others worried going forward.
