Slaughtneil (Derry) 1-10
Omagh St. Enda's (Tyrone) 1-9

Slaughtneil are celebrating a first Ulster club football title win after Christopher Bradley's brilliant injury-time point handed them a dramatic victory over Omagh St. Enda's at Athletic Grounds.

The centre forward's booming point - his fourth from play - snatched the win for the Derry champions just when most in the 9,320 attendance were expecting extra-time. Omagh's misery was compounded by the decision of Down referee Cormac Branagan not to award a free to Jason McAnulla for a push in the back at the other end of the field.

This novel final got off an explosive start when Slaughtneil corner forward Cormac O'Doherty caught a high ball from Padraig Kelly and finished to the net for a first-minute goal. Conor O'Donnell replied with a brace of points in the fourth and eighth minutes for St. Enda's before match-winner Bradley opened his account.

Aaron Grugan and Gerald Bradley traded scores before the Tyrone champions regained parity for the first time thanks to further efforts from corner back and captain Hugh Gallagher, and county star Joe McMahon.

And they went into the break leading 1-5 to 1-2 after Conor Grugan set up Barry Tierney for a well-worked goal just before half-time.

The momentum remained with St. Enda's on the restart when Tierney stretched out their lead to four points. But Slaughtneil - who had registered seven wides in the opening half - then found the scoring boots as points from Barry McGuigan, Cormac O'Doherty and Ronan Bradley brought them back into it.

With county midfielder Patsy Bradley driving them on, Mickey Moran's charges drew level on 1-7 apiece in the 47th minute through goal-scorer O'Doherty. Christopher Bradley edged them ahead two minutes later before a 35-metre free from Ronan O'Neill made it all square again with four minutes remaining.

But Bradley and Slaughtneil had the final say after a tension-filled finale.

Slaughtneil - A McMullan; C Cassidy, K McKaigue, B Rodgers; F McEldowney, C McKaigue, B McGuigan (0-1); Patsy Bradley, P McGuigan; P Kelly, C Bradley (0-4), R Bradley (0-1); G Bradley (0-1), Paul Bradley (0-1f), C O'Doherty (1-2). Subs: P Cassidy for P Kelly, P McNeill for B Rodgers, S McGuigan for R Bradley.

Omagh St. Enda's - R Clarke; H Gallagher (0-1), Justin McMahon, S Mullan; C McLaughlin, B Tierney (1-1), C McMahon; Joe McMahon (0-1), C Grugan; A Grugan (0-1), J McAnulla, C O'Neill (0-1); C O'Donnell (0-2), R O'Neill (0-2f), C Meyler. Subs: J Colton for C O'Donnell, C Clarke for C O'Neill, D Kerr for C McLaughlin.

Referee - C Branagan.

Tweet

Most Read Stories