Saturday April 11 2004
O'Neill Sports Ulster U21 Nines Tournament
As Tyrone County Champions our Under-21’s took part in the Ulster U21 nines Tournament in Greenlough, Co. Derry on Easter Sunday. They were placed in section A along with Cormore Gaels of Cavan, St Gaul's of Antrim and Derry champions Slaughtneil.
The Loughmacrory boys got off to a good start beating Cormore Gaels in their first match before falling to St Gaul's in the second round. The final match in the section pitted them against a fine Slaughtneil side and a titanic struggle ensued which produced six goals in the twenty minutes on play. Although the game ended all square on a score if 4 – 01 to 2 – 07 Slaughtneil went through to the semi-final on score difference.
While all the boys played their hearts out and thoroughly enjoyed the tournament a special mention has to be made of the gallant efforts of Niall Kelly. Niall had starred for Tyrone in their under 21 championship match against Armagh in Dungannon the previous day, a game which went to extra time before the teams could be separated, and had then hurried back to Loughmacrory to play for his club against Clonoe in the league at 6.30 that evening. He had played three and a half hours continuous football within little over twenty four hours.
The club would like to thank Oliver Plunkett's club of Greenlough for their hospitality and the invitation to take part in this prestigious tournament thus affording them the opportunity to represent their county.
The panel of players who represented the club were:
Patrick McCullagh, Niall Kelly, John Gallagher, Damien McAleer, Mark McCullagh, Enda Ward, Eoin Mullan, Ciarán Ward, Noel Kelly, Ronan Ward, Karl Logue, Brian McCrystal and Gerard Donaghy.
