Undefeated league champions, Omagh, were favourites for this titanic clash with Naomh Colum Cille, but had to succumb to the greater hurling power of ‘the new kids on the block'.

With field conditions far from conductive to good hurling, both teams contributed to a fine display of the ancient art, with play swinging from end to end, and no quarter asked or given. The skill, craft and courage of these two fine young teams was a joy to behold. More is the pity that the public at large appear oblivious to the hurling potential that exists within the county.

It was touch and go throughout the first half with the game finely balanced. Omagh had a couple of goals which unsettled the Cille's defence, but Dominic McGrath soon marshalled the full-back-line and the boys in black and red began to grow in confidence. Paul Ó Néill Mór was giving his usual stalwart performance at centre-back, and his brother Se?n Óg, as fine and honest a hurler as you would wish to see, epitomised everything that is good in the national game. Darren Ó Néill punished any aberrations in the Omagh defence with his deadly accurate free-taking and points from play. Philly McKernan, cool as ever under pressure, took his goal well, to leave everything to play for in the second half, with Omagh just a point ahead.

There was a renewed vigour about the Colum Cille lads in the second half, and we finally got a glimpse of what the minor team is capable of.

‘Deccy' and Lee were doing Trojan work at midfield, and captain Ó Murchu at centre-forward was poetry in motion with his delightful skills, incisive runs and fierce tough hurling when it counted. Darren Ó Néill continued to slot over some delightful points as Naomh Colum Cille began to take control. “Take your points and the goal will come” and when the goal came it was worth waiting for! Shay Kernaghan plucked the sliothar from the air and sent a blistering drive to the Omagh net.

Omagh rallied, but the Cille's defence, with Brian McGrath and Mairtin Ó Né?ll coming into their own, showed character and discipline. The light was fading, dangerous for hurling, but the flame was lit in Naomh Colum Cille and no-one was going to deny them victory.

Team: J.P. Ó Hagan, Se?n Ó Néill, Patrick Ó Néill, Mairtin Ó Néill, Dominic McGrath, Paul Ó Néill, Brian McGrath, Declan Ferguson, Lee Canavan, Darren Ó Néill, Darren Murphy (capt), Gary Duffin, Brendan Early, Philip McKernan, Shay Kernaghan, Michael Ó Néill, Tommy Nixon, Dominic Shields.

Legend of Christy Ring: Draiodoir an Chluain – The Wizard of Cloyne

Few enough of this generation of younger readers have heard much of Christy Ring and fewer still have seen him in action. More's the pity, because he was majestic. In his native Cloyne in East Cork they raised a monument to him and will tell you simply “There'll never be another Christy Ring”. Stories about him are legend. They all point to a hurling fanatic with a pass on for the game, a man completely dedicated in his pursuit of victory.

On a recent sojourn in my native Tallow in County Waterford , I chanced upon my old teacher, the great Waterford player and brilliant coach Ned Power. Inevitably the conversation turned to hurling, as Ned has a particular interest in our young club. Being an old adversary of Ring, Ned had some interesting tales to tell.

“He could play in any position and often did, but midfield and any forward position were where he reached his pinnacle. His display in the 1951 Munster final against Tipperary was exceptional. Playing at midfield with a reckless abandon, he discarded his boots and socks, in order to drive himself to excess of endeavour like a man possessed. Even though much of his glory was yet to come, that June Sunday in 1951 marked the zenith of Ring's career in my mind”, said Ned. Never did one man dominate a game so completely.

You could fill a book with Ned's hurling stories and maybe some day he will. As I parted from Ned, the thought struck me that maybe Ned and Christy have more in common than Ned would really admit.