Truagh Win O Duffy Cup for First Time
PLATINUM TANKS O’DUFFY CUP FINAL
Truagh 0-11, Donaghmoyne 0-1-0.
A resilient Truagh staged an increasingly effective second-half performance to clinch their 1st ever O’Duffy Cup title at the expense of Donaghmoyne in this entertaining if never spectacular final, that was played in bright if somewhat chilly conditions in St Mary’s Park, Castleblayney, on Friday evening last.
Truagh took the lead for the first time in the game with 2 minutes of normal time remaining and held Donaghmoyne at bay in a close finish to clinch victory. In the early stages of this contest Donaghmoyne were the more dominant side, playing some very constructive football, defending well, breaking at pace particularly through Stephen and Thomas Finnegan in the wing halfback positions and with the accuracy of Ronan McDonald up front they gradually forged ahead as Truagh struggled particularly with their final ball in when going forward. Donaghmoyne were ahead by 6 points in the early stages of the 2nd quarter but Truagh had now begun to settle and by half-time they had the margin down to 3 points.
On the resumption Truagh picked up where they had left off in the final minutes of the 1st half and they now began to increasingly dictate the pace and tempo of the game, drawing level with 5 minutes of normal time remaining and then hitting what ultimately proved to be the winner with 2 minutes left on the stopwatch.
Teams and Scorers: Truagh: Caolain McGee, Darren Todd, Aidan Coyle, Mark McQuaid, Aaron Treanor, Barry Cuddy, John Treanor, Niall Rooney 0-1, Niall McMeel, Matthew Flood, Christopher McAnenly 0-1 (f), Damien McRory, Sean McKenna 0-7 (5f), Brendan Treanor, Daniel Finnegan. Subs: Thomas O’Brien for D McRory, Colm McRory for D Finnegan.
Donaghmoyne: Shane garland, Fergal Keenan 0-2, Joe Kelly, John Cumiskey, Stephen Finnegan 0-1, David Wilson, Thomas Finnegan, Niall Keenan 0-1, Stephen Cunningham, Gary Woods, Bernard Kelly, Shane McElroy, John Farrell 0-1, Seamus Markey, Ronan McDonald 0-5 (2f). Subs: Cillian Coleman for G Woods, Niall Kelly for S Finnegan. Referee: Sean Ward (Inniskeen). 
