Derrytresk.....0-8
Glenelly.....0-9
By Kevin Kelly

GLENELLY are sixty minutes away from a place in the final of the WJ Dolan Tyrone Junior Championship after a narrow win over Derrytresk at Loughmacrory on Saturday afternoon.

The weather conditions made life difficult for both sets of players and that was reflected in an error-ridden encounter that failed to reach any great heights although the closeness of the score line meant that the result was in doubt right up until the final whistle.

Glenelly went into the game as favourites and at times they looked capable of building up a sizeable lead over their opponents but they failed to build on a purple patch in the closing stages of the first half as they came from a point down to lead by three at the break.

It took Glenelly nineteen minutes to open their second half account during which time they had fallen behind again but once they got going they restricted their opponents to just one further score as they held out in a nervous finish.

Derrytresk had their chances to force the tie into extra time but they took the wrong options on a couple of occasions and in injury time at the end of the game they were reduced to fourteen men when substitute Eoin Cullen was straight red carded by Fintona whistler Michael McCarron.

Glenelly will be relieved to have got past another close encounter in the championship as their superb season continues but they will know themselves that they will have to improve if they wish to make it through to the decider.

Ciaran McBride, Liam Nicholas, Conal McCullagh, Joe McCullagh and Ronan O'Kane all played well for the St Josephs and no doubt this tough encounter will stand to them for next weekend's semi-final tie.

Seamus Harkin and Mickey Rea traded points early on before Derrytresk hit the front approaching the end of the opening quarter with points from Cathal O'Neill and another one from the impressive Rea.

Glenelly weren't looking comfortable at this stage but they then found their rhythm to play the sort of football that they are capable of and points from Michael Nicholas, Kevin McCullagh, Ronan O'Kane and Conal McCullagh gave them a deserved 0-6 to 0-3 advantage at half-time.

Glenelly will be disappointed that they didn't pick up were they had left off and the fact that they failed to score for the entire third quarter will no doubt be a cause for concern ahead of their semi-final clash. Rea converted a tricky free to reduce the deficit and when Niall Gavin added a superb score from play it was clear that the underdogs had the bit between their teeth.

Two points in a minute from Cathal O'Neill and half back Eoin Rea had Derrytresk in front but that only served to sting Glenelly into action and after Kevin McCullagh had levelled matters a fine score sixty seconds later from O'Kane gave them a lead that they were never to lose.

Centre half back Conal McCullagh ventured forward to register again nine minutes from the end and even though that was their last score of the game they still did enough to hold on.

Derrytresk kicked a couple of wides while they had substitute Cullen sent off in a tense finish. With the additional allotted two minutes up Derrytresk had a chance to force the game into extra time when they were awarded a "45" but Cathal O'Neill took a short kick to Kevin Campbell whose long range effort was blocked and with that the final whistle sounded.