Tyrone 2-24
Fermanagh 3-20 aet
 
Tyrone claimed their second Lory Meagher Cup title in dramatic fashion as the Red Hands dug deep in extra-time to secure a one-point win over Ulster rivals Fermanagh at Croke Park this afternoon.

It was a Conor Grogan score in the 89th minute which ultimately provided the difference between the sides, following a contest which saw the teams tied on 10 on occasions, including at full-time in normal time.

It was also the Éire Óg clubman who forced extra-time, after calmly slotting an injury-time free over the cross-bar at the Dineen Terrace end.

Fermanagh led by 3-17 to 1-21 at half-time in extra-time, with Tyrone reduced to 14 men at this stage following the dismissal of half-forward Aidan Kelly.
 
The Erne County held a one-point lead with three minutes remaining following a Sean Corrigan (1-08) point, but Tyrone dug deep with a brace of late scores.

Tyrone were chasing their second title in this competition, while for Fermanagh it was an appearance in their first decider.

The 2009 champions began brightly with a score from Conor Grogan after just a minute, but the challengers laid down a firm assault for honours over the next eight minutes.

Fermanagh got off the mark in the fourth minute thanks to a Paul McGoldrick pointed free, and outscored their opponents by 2-03 to 0-03 up to the tenth minute.

Shea Curran registered the first of Fermanagh's first-half hat-trick in the fifth minute after a long-range Declan McGarry shot dropped shot, before the Lisnaskea full-forward powered the ball to the net.

Sean Corrigan and Damien Casey traded points, while a Gerald Gilmore point cut the gap to two points in the eighth minute.

However, Fermanagh took control in the midfield sector and made Tyrone pay over the next two minutes.

Corrigan claiming his second point before a Declan McGarry goal ensured a 2-03 to 0-03 lead in the 10th minute.

Tyrone cut the deficit to the minimum in the 19th minute, thanks to five unanswered points with Damien Casey, Justin Kelly, Sean Óg Grogan and Conor Grogan on target.

Fermanagh continued to look dangerous in front of the posts and it wasn't long before they completed their hat-trick.

Corrigan bringing his tally to 1-02 after JP McGarry provided the pass in the 24th minute.

However, the sides were tied in the 28th minute as a Justin Kelly point coupled with a Seán Óg Grogan goal left the score-line at 1-09 to 3-03.

Tyrone got on top in the closing stages of the half, with points from Shea McKiver and Damien Casey helping them to a 1-12 to 3-04 interval lead.

After conceding a hat-trick of first-half goals, Tyrone manager Tom Magill bid to strengthen up his defence for the second half, with the introduction of John Devlin between the posts.

The Red Hands certainly looked stronger at the back in the closing 35 minutes, while upfront they continued to impress on the restart.

Points from Damien Casey and Séan Óg Grogan gave Tyrone a four-point lead for the first time in the 41st minute, but Fermanagh failed to give up.

Scores were at a premium over the next 11 minutes, but a trio of points, including two from frees for midfielder John Duffy cut the gap to the minimum as the game entered the final quarter.

Fermanagh had the bulk of the scoring opportunities during this period also sending three efforts wides of the target.

The Erne County continued to cause the Tyrone defence half, with a well placed effort from Sean Corrigan tieing the game for the third time, on a 3-08 to 1-14 score-line.

Tyrone sensed danger, but found a calming force as Justin Kelly slotted over his first point from play, and his sides first score in 15 minutes.

Little seperated the sides in the final quarter, as both counties hunger for honours got greater.

Indeed such was the tight nature of this game that no more than two points proved to be the difference between the teams in the closing stages.

Tyrone held a two-point advantage with 10 minutes left on the clock following scores from Justin and Aidan Kelly.

But Fermanagh never gave up as points from Declan McGarry and a superb Ryan Bogue score, tied the game at 3-11 to 1-17 in the 66th minute.

The sides traded points on two further occasions in this contest, before a fifth point of the second half from John Duffy in injury-time looked like Fermanagh were on target forhonours.

With at least two minutes of injury-time to follow there was still time for Tyrone to snatch a possible winner.

Justin Kelly cut through for a goal opportunity in the 71st minute, but Fermanagh goal-keeper Dwayne McPhilips pulled off a super save.

Tyrone continued to pile on late pressure as they won a late free which Conor Grogan converted into the Dineen Terrace end.

The two minutes of additional time were played at this stage, but referee Sean Cleere still allowed another scoring opportunity.

Fermanagh cutting through with the ball played into full-forward Shea Curran, but his goal shot was expertly saved by Tyrone keeper John Devlin.

Following the resulting clearance the Kilkenny whistler blew for full-time, with two periods of 10 minutes of extra-time to follow.

Fermanagh were strongest in the first period of extra-time outscoring their opponents by three points to one in this spell.

Tyrone were dealt a major blow when Aidan Kelly was dismissed on a straight red card after a foul on Barry Smith.

Duffy slotted over the resulting free to claim his sixth point, and put Fermanagh 3-16 to 1-20 ahead in the 75th minute.

Tyrone looked strongest in the closing stages as scores from Justin Kelly and Conor Grogan inside a 30-second spell gave the Red Hands a slender 2-24 to 3-20 lead with two minutes left on the clock.

At the opposite end defenders Mickey Kelly and Martin Grogan stood firm.

Captain Damian Maguire also showed great leadership in the 82nd minute, and was heavily fouled coming out with the ball with Declan McGarry handed a straight red card for his challenge on the Tyrone full-back.

The closing stages of this contest were marred with some unsavoury scenes, with further red cards following for Tyrone's Paudie McHugh and Fermanagh's Shea Curran.

The full-time whistle signalled soon-after to scenes of jubliation from the Tyrone players.

After the game GAA President Liam O'Neill presented the Lory Meagher Cup to Tyrone captain Jason Kelly.

Scorers for Tyrone: Justin Kelly (4f, 1 '65) 1-08; S Óg Grogan 1-03; C Grogan (1f), D Casey (4f) 0-04 each; A Kelly 0-02; S McKiver, G Gilmore, R O'Neill 0-01 each.

Scorers for Fermanagh: S Corrigan 1-08; J Duffy (4f) 0-07; D McGarry, S Curran 1-01 each; P McGoldrick (2f) 0-02; R Bogue 0-01.

TYRONE: Jason Kelly; M Kelly, D Maguire, R Winters; M O'Gorman, M Grogan, S McCrory; Justin Kelly, C Gallagher; A Kelly, S McKiver, D Casey; G Gilmore, S Óg Grogan, C Grogan. Subs: J Devlin for Jason Kelly (HT); R O'Neill for Gilmore (46); SP Begley for O'Gorman (61); S Donnelly for McCrory (64); S Hagan for Casey (67); D Casey for McKiver (79); P McHugh for Gallagher (82); M O'Gorman for McCrory (83); P O'Connor for Hagan (86).

FERMANAGH: D McPhilips; D Teague, E Morrissey, F Bannon; F McBrien, M Slevin, K Kehoe; J Duffy, R Bogue; JP McGarry, D McGarry, A Breslin; S Corrigan, S Curran, P McGoldrick. Subs: B Smith for McGoldrick (HT); S Mulholland for McBrien (63); C McGarry for Mulholland (HTET); P McGoldrick for Breslin (88). 

REFEREE: Sean Cleere (Kilkenny) Tweet

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