'People thought this day would never come' - Boyle

Loughmacrory manager Martin Boyle hailed his side's character

Loughmacrory manager Martin Boyle felt his team "refused to be beaten" as they claimed the Tyrone SFC title for the first time in the club's history.

Their 0-18 to 2-11 win over Trillick came courtesy of Gareth Donaghy's injury-time winner in what Boyle felt was a "rollercoaster" of a game.

Underdogs before the throw-in, Loughmacrory again proved their worth after coming through in a semi-final replay against parish rivals Carrickmore and Boyle beamed with pride as his team again found the answers.

"It's all about the players, there were questions makes throughout that second half, but they responded brilliantly," he told BBC Sport NI's Odhran Crumley.

"Trillick got it back level and I'm sure everyone thought they would kick on with the sizeable breeze and get the winner, but they just refused to be beaten and you can't buy that character.

"That was a real rollercoaster of a game, but every championship match we have played this year has been a real rollercoaster and we didn't expect anything else.

"People probably thought this day would never come but when you have that much talent when you have in our changing room amazing things can happen."

Loughmacrory victory can inspire others' - Meenagh

Loughmacrory players celebrate

The Loughmacrory club was founded in 1972 and their journey from the bottom rung of Tyrone football to the top is one that was savoured by all in black and amber.

Newly appointed Derry manager Ciaran Meenagh, a Loughmacrory native and part of the club's set-up, reflected on the long road to get there.

Meenagh was there for the countless disappointments and setbacks the club has suffered over the years, so landing the ultimate prize in Tyrone football tastes all the sweeter.

"It's a surreal feeling, like you're in a dream," he said.

"From where we can from, getting beat in a Division Three final here 12 years ago to not even being in an intermediate championship to come up through the plays-offs and to be in a county final.

"I've stood in that stand for 20 years or more watching the big teams of Tyrone playing in county finals. I just can't believe we have had that experience and to have the courage to go on and win it. It's unbelievable.

"For where we have come from it has to give every other club belief it can be done, but we gave our life to it and to this struggle of trying to gradually improve and build right from the ground up."