'Pure grit' saw Errigal across the line in Tyrone final

Ruairi Canavan and Darragh Canavan celebrate Errigal Ciaran's success with their father Peter (centre)

Errigal Ciaran's Ruairi Canavan says "pure grit" helped his side dethrone champions Trillick on a scoreline of 0-12 to 1-8 in Friday's Tyrone Senior Football Championship final at Healy Park.

Ruairi contributed six points to his side's score as they lifted the O'Neill Cup and avenged their defeat in last year's final.

His 51st-minute score proved to be the difference between the sides.

"It's unreal. I missed as much as I scored but thankfully the boys made some big tackles near the end there, it takes the whole effort," he said.

"We didn't score for 10 minutes at the end but we'll take it.

"We know how good champions they are and we knew we would get nothing easy today."

Just as in the 2023 decider, Ciaran Daly's goal brought Trillick back when the game looked gone.

"We didn't set the world alight in any of our games [in the Tyrone SFC] and we probably didn't there, but it was just pure grit," Canavan said.

"Towards the end of those games you just have to grit your teeth and dig your heels in. We worked hard for each other.

"It plays a part [Trillick winning last year]. But they wanted it as much as we did. It's just a few breaks of the ball going your way and thankfully they went our way."

Ruairi's brother Darragh, who captained the winning side, said Errigal's ninth county title was "an unbelievable feeling, really special".

Of his brother's significant contribution, Darragh added: "He's been great for us all year, he works hard and he deserves it."