Conor Gormley is one of the most senior players on the Carrickmore team

THE excitement was ramped up in the Tyrone Senior Championship last weekend following Trillick’s departure and Clonoe’s dramatic win, and it only promises to get better on Saturday.

Last Sunday night, the defending champions Trillick exited at the hands of Killyclogher, who earned revenge for the 2015 final defeat.
But the real drama came earlier that day when a late goal from Daniel  McNulty earned Clonoe an amazing win over Omagh, who were seconds away from qualifying for the quarter-finals.

The Rahillys have only had a week to prepare for their quarter-final clash with Carrickmore on Saturday, who saw off Greencastle a fortnight ago.
Carrickmore’s Conor Gormley said that he and his team mates are preparing for what will be a massive game against Damien Cassidy’s side who have threats all over the field.

“They have men behind the ball, and they have mighty men who can break forward. They have brilliant pace on the team, and they also have lethal target men, the likes of Connor McAlliskey.

“It’s going to be a massive game for us. Clonoe pipped us early on in the league. But it’s going to be a different story.”

Carrickmore won’t need to look far for motivation against Clonoe. They lost to the east Tyrone side in the county final in 2013, 3-8 to 0-12. This Carrickmore team also went on to lose the 2014 final as well.

Last season, St  Colmcilles made an early exit from the championship, losing in the first round. This year, however, Gormley said that joint managers Gavan McElroy and Dermot Loughran have worked on the mental strength of the Carmen team.

“The management were involved last year and they stepped forward again this year. They have done very well. They are local men and they are very passionate. They want to see Carrickmore win, and they will do anything to make that happen.

“They are putting their head on the line I suppose. It is a tough job to jointly manage your own club, so fair play to them. But they want to see us win and they are doing everything that they can to install that tradition and belief into these players and fair play to them.”

Full coverage this weekend’s Tyrone Club Championship action is available in store today or online here.

GONE…Conor Gormley has called it a day