Conor Turbitt’s haul of eight points helped Clann Eireann get their hands on the Gerry Fegan Cup and end a 58-year wait.
‘Turbo’ has been recognised as one of the most talented forwards in the county for the last few years. The speedy attacker sprinkled some of his magic on the county scene in 2021.
The Lurgan man hardly put a foot wrong in Sunday’s showpiece and displayed his ability on the biggest day.
Jack Conlon’s goal allowed Tommy Coleman’s men to get back on level terms, but it was Turbitt who nailed the final two winning scores.
The last being from the dead ball and the Man of the Match described what was going through his head during that moment. “Kick it over and get back in front of the goal. Defend it and don’t let them get a goal.
It’s a side token (the Man of the Match award). I’m just proud, proud of the boys, proud of everything. I don’t know how to describe it”.
Super subs Ruairi McDonald and Conlon both hit the net to bring Clann Eireann back into contention, having trailed by six just before the second water break.
Impact off the bench
“We knew when we were five or six points down, we had it in the legs and that’s what it was that got us over the line. The quality we have in this squad is unbelievable, the young boys coming through, it’s only going to get stronger.
To have them boys, the quality coming in off the bench. Against Maghery it was the same, Ballymacnab the same, getting over the line it’s unbelievable”.
A change of tactic during the water break was needed and it proved to be the correct decision.
“We were five or six down there’s no point sitting back anymore. We said, ‘go man for man and go for it’ and that’s what we did. Ruairi McDonald kicked an excellent goal and then we just kicked on from there”.
The Gerry Fegan Cup, named after the last man to captain Clann Eireann to a Senior Championship back in 1963, was a huge motivation for Turbitt and his teammates.
They wanted to be able to bring that trophy back to Lurgan and back to the Fegan household. “It means a lot to us; it means a lot. We said before we came out, we’re going to win this cup and we’re going to bring it past the house tonight.
That’s the first house we’re going to go to. They were saying, the family, how proud they were just to get to the final first of all. But to get over the line again it’s just unbelievable”.
