Holders held in Tyrone thriller

Loughmacrory's Ruairi McCullagh celebrates in the colours of Tyrone ©INPHO/Lorcan Doherty

Loughmacrory looked on course for a routine victory on Saturday evening when leading by 1-9 to 0-4 at the break - Man of the Match Eoin McElholm with their goal - but the Clarkes would fire no fewer than four goals in the final eight minutes plus injury time to finish honours even: 4-10 to 1-19.

In an incredible climax to the game, Matthew Quinn and Leo Hughes found the Loughmacrory net in the 52nd and 54th minutes respectively to tie up the scores. Two Dara Curran points and another from McElholm had the holders three clear again but Patrick McKearney equalised with a third Dungannon major.

The gap was three again as Ruairi McCullagh landed a stunning two-pointer in the third minute of added time, adding to a McElholm point, but Dálaigh Jones calmly sent his shot to the top right-hand corner of the Teresa’s net at the death to spark mayhem.

The replay between the champions of 2025 and 2020 has been fixed for Thursday night in Omagh.