Tyrone SFC Final replay: Errigal Ciarán 1-8, Carrickmore 0-8 Errigal Ciarán won their first Tyrone senior football championship title since 2002 with a gritty win over defending champions Carrickmore at Omagh.
Peter Canavan was once again the central character, going off injured at half-time, before reappearing to guide his side over the line, just as he did in the 2005 All-Ireland final.
It later emerged that a rib injury picked up in the drawn game a fortnight earlier had restricted the star attacker's movement, but there was no sign of any problems as he floated over three first-half points and set up a goal for Damien McDermott.
Errigal succeeded in closing out the game against comeback specialists Carrickmore, who this time just couldn't find the last-gasp touch of inspiration to dig them out of this particular hole.
Errigal struck for a goal in the 21st minute when Canavan crossed from the left for Damien McDermott to punch to the net from the edge of the square.
And when Canavan followed up with two converted frees, it was looking good for the men from Dunmoyle, ahead by five points.
But Kevin McNally converted a free and Mark Donnelly hit a stoppage-time score to cut the deficit further.
Errigal led by 1-5 to 0-5 at the break, and there was palpable disbelief among the crowd when Canavan failed to appear for the second half.
The rib injury picked had worsened, and when the defending champions pulled back points through Kevin McNally and substitute Séamus McCallan, a one-point game looked ominous for the challengers.
Enda McGinley stepped up his game at midfield, brother Cormac began to show his leadership qualities at the back and with Paul Quinn continuing to display enormous athleticism, Errigal produced a dynamic spell.
Scores were still difficult to come by, but McDermott and substitute John Kelly managed to split the posts to restore the three-point lead.
Errigal Ciarán goalkeeper John Devine came to the rescue with a stunning save from Michael Gallagher, another crucial moment in this riveting encounter.
There were just two points in the final quarter, but no shortage of drama. Canavan raised the roof with his re-entry, dropping back to sweep and making a wonderful stop from Brian Gormley's shot on goal.
Gabriel McCallan picked up a second yellow card as Errigal held their nerve, and Canavan had them screaming again when the O'Neill trophy was handed over by county board chairman Pat Darcy.
Clontibret and Magheracloone will contest the final of the Monaghan senior football championship following their semi-final victories over Truagh (1-12 to 0-9) and Castleblayney (1-7 to 0-9) respectively.
ERRIGAL CIARÁN: J Devine; Emmet McGinley, Cormac McGinley, D Neill; D Harte, P Quinn (0-1), Ciarán McGinley; Pascal Canavan, A O'Donnell; R McCrory, H Quinn, C Tierney (0-1); D McDermott (1-1), Enda McGinley, Peter Canavan (0-3, two frees). Subs: B Mullin (0-1) for Ciarán McGinley, M Harte for Peter Canavan, J Kelly (0-1) for H Quinn, S Mallon for Neill, Peter Canavan for Tierney.
CARRICKMORE: P McCallan, P Daly, C Fox, K Gormley, Ciarán McAleer (0-1), R McGarrity, C McGurk, G McCallan, P Hughes, R McNally (0-2, one 45), B Gormley, M Gallagher, K McNally (0-2, two frees), M Donnelly (0-1), F Magill (0-1). Subs: S McCallan (0-1) for Magill, P Cunningham for McGurk, Conor McAleer for Hughes, J Nugent for Gallagher.
Referee: M Mohan (Eglish).
