Plenty of sports have been enjoying a summer break the last two months, but there was still plenty of local sport to enjoy in June and July.
We begin with GAA, and in football Trillick St Marcartan’s 100% start to the Tyrone ended with back to back defeats to Errigal Ciaran and Omagh St Endas. These victories for Errigal and Omagh bolstered their respective hopes for a place in the top 4 play-offs.
In Hurling the impressive new facilities at Pairc Eire Og (Carrickmore), the new home of the Eire Og's club hosted two fixtures as Eire Og's faced off against Middletown (Armagh) and then current Senior Ulster champions Robert Emmetts Slaughtneil (Derry) in the Ulster Senior Hurling league. Both games ended in a draw, but were superb, admirable exhibitions of hurling that were definitely was worth admiring.
In soccer, Sion Swifts hosted Glentoran Ladies in a sun kissed Darragh Park (Castlederg) in the Womens Irish Premier League. Despite well taken goals from Hannah Ward and Chloe McGlade, Niall Curries Glentoran side came from behind twice, with goals coming from Sarah Connolly and a late equaliser from Rachel Rogan, to earn a draw out of a highly entertaining game. Sion Swifts current season also consists of them participating in the yearly Foyle Cup which takes place throughout the city of Derry. Tony McGinley’s side comfortably defeated American visitors Twin City 8-0 at the Templemore Leisure complex to secure a place in the Senior Womens Foyle cup final which they went on to win for the 3rd consecutive year.
In other sports the Stage 9 of the Joule Donegal International Rally circuit got underway outside Letterkenny with Manus Kelly/Donal Barrett (Subaru WRC) leading the international stage by 8.6 seconds from Garry Jennings/Rory Kennedy also of Subaru WRC. Manus/Kelly went on to win their 3rd consecutive Donegal international rally circuit. In the national stage Ian Darrian/Paul McGee (Darrian T90 GTR) led by 39.8 seconds from Kevin Gallagher/ Noel O’Sullivan (Darrian T90 GTR) and also went on to win the National stage of the Rally.
Finally the 2018 Tyrone Tennis championships got underway at the Omagh Lawn tennis club where many participants came from far and wide competing in this prestigious competition where many singles, doubles fixtures were covered throughout the two days we attended.
Congratulations once again too to all the teams and athletes who gained success in June and July! We can look forward to another great month of local sport ahead.