Errigal Ciaran coach Enda McGinley admitted his side kept their best performance of the season for the Tyrone decider as they defeated Trillick by one point to lift the O’Neill Cup.
It was revenge for last year’s disappointment in the Final when Trillick overcame Errigal Ciaran in extra-time.
With Ruairi Canavan scoring six points, this time around Errigal Ciaran were able to secure a 0-12 to 1-8 victory.
2005 was the last time the O’Neill Cup was retained and Errigal Ciaran ensured that run will continue for at least another 12 months.
McGinley knows what it takes as a player to win titles at county and national level and he was delighted to guide his home club to the Holy Grail in his first season at the helm.
“It’s unreal to be county champions,” he said.
“Trillick are a great side and were worthy county champions. We knew that we were going to have to play well to beat them. It was an intense game between two well matched sides and thankfully we did enough to just get over the line.
“There may have been no scores in the last ten minutes plus injury time but I felt the turnovers our defence contributed went a long way towards us winning the game.
“It was probably our best display in this year’s Championship and it had to be. Our start to the second half pushed us four clear, but we knew that Trillick weren’t finished and while they got that goal, I was glad that it came at the time it did and not late on when you would have no time to respond.
“We have St Eunans next Saturday in the Ulster Club but I have told the lads to enjoy the next few days and take it all in as county titles are special and need to be celebrated.”