Copyright bbc
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."
