Newtownstewart.......2-6
Aghaloo...................1-10
AGHALOO and Newtownstewart disturbed the silence of a sleepy Sunday morning in Trillick with a rousing Junior semi-final, the Clogher Valley side staging a remarkable second half fightback to reach the decider.
This match was originally scheduled to go ahead at Omagh on Friday night but the Healy Park pitch was deemed unplayable due to incessant rainfall. The contrast at a sun-kissed Donnelly Park yesterday couldn't have been more marked and both teams served up an encounter to match the good weather.
Trailing by seven points at half-time and reduced to fourteen men, Aghaloo's cause looked a forlorn one, however they stubbornly refused to throw in the towel and inched their way back into contention to eventually edge the verdict. In doing so they have set up a mouth watering final meeting with neighbours Augher next weekend.
After a fairly muted opening in which the only significant incident was a goal chance blazed wide by Aghaloo forward Martin O'Neill, the Valley men eventually registered their first point in the ninth minute. Stephen Donnelly collected Leslie Stevenson's pass and shot over after selling his marker a neat dummy.
However Newtown's pace and razor sharp approach play caused Aghaloo problems throughout the first period and they broke in devastating fashion for a goal in the 12th minute. Midfielder Brendan Boyle released Mickey McConomy down the centre and he in turn fed the supporting Turlough McNamee who drilled low to the left of keeper Chris Dynes.
Donnelly slotted over another free but in the main Aghaloo's play was much more laboured and indecisive than their opponents who with a blustery wind at their backs, also looked more incisive in the attacking sector. Boyle was twice on target, once with a free and then with a superb shot from distance, after a fine exchange with Damien Patton.
Dean Arnold then tagged on a pointed free for St Eugene's before Aghaloo's problems went from bad to worse when Newtown struck for another goal. Patton linked up with Martin O'Brien along the right wing before the latter cut in and drilled a venomous shot high past Dynes at his near post.
Patton also teed up a gilt-edged goal scoring opportunity for Arnold, with the Aghaloo rearguard again split asunder, but he stabbed a shot wide of the target, a miss that was to prove crucial as the game progressed.
Still when the O'Neills lost the services of centre-half forward Leslie Stevenson in first half injury time, for a second yellow card offence, after a confrontation with McConomy, St Eugene's seemed to have laid the platform for victory. (Half-time Newtownstewart 2-3 Aghaloo 0-2).
Aghaloo however were a completely transformed team on the resumption and surged right back into the tie, even with the numerical inferiority. Sean Douglas, Gerard McCaughey (who grew in prominence), John O'Neill and Donnelly (free) all pointed inside the first ten minutes, as Newtown lost their earlier drive and cohesion.
Patton lifted the siege with a quality effort on the break but the momentum was all with the Valley men and midway through the period McCaughey slide a pass inside to Martin O'Neil who tucked a goal past Tyrone hero Pascal McConnell.
Donnelly levelled matters up with a 20m free and then handed Aghaloo a most unlikely lead. After being fed by Sean Douglas, he floated over a wonderful score which dropped onto the top of the crossbar and over.
O'Neill and Douglas with composed finishes extended their advantage to three but they were made to survive a frantic late Newtown rally. Tyler Stockton was twice found out on the right to split the posts expertly, but other chances to send the tie into extra-time were spurned by the crest-fallen St Eugene's.
The Scorers...
Aghaloo: Stephen Donnelly (0-5, 3 frees), Martin O'Neill (1-1), Sean Douglas (0-2), John O'Neill, Gerard McCaughey (0-1 each)
Newtownstewart: Turlough McNamee (1-0), Martin O'Brien (1-0), Brendan Boyle (0-2, 1 free), Tyler Stockton (0-2), Damien Patton (0-1), Dean Arnold (0-1, free)
The Teams...
Aghaloo: Chris Dynes, Oliver McElroy, Mark McCormack, Fintan Kelly, Enda McGarrity, John O'Neill, Martin McCarron, Felim Og Gildernew, Stephen Beattie, Gerard McCaughey, Leslie Stevenson, Martin O'Neill, Sean Douglas, Stephen Donnelly, Gerard Daly. No subs used
Newtownstewart: Pascal McConnell, Brian McMenamin, Damien Duffy, James McMenamin, Paddy Gallagher, Paul Houston, Paul McKenna, Kevin Gallagher, Brendan Boyle, Tyler Stockton, Michael McConomy, Dean Arnold, Turlough McNamee, Damien Patton, Martin O'Brien. Subs used: Conor Mayse for M McConomy (44 mins), Jude Lynch for P Gallagher (53), Damien Donnelly for M O'Brien (53)
Referee: Donal Dorman (Brackaville)
