AIB Ulster Club SFC: Edendork survive tough test

AIB Ulster Club SFC Quarter-Final

Edendork 1-15 St Brigid’s 2-11

By Francis Mooney at O'Neill Park, Dungannon

Teenage star John McLernon and seasoned attacker Darren McCurry broke the hearts of St Brigid’s in a scrappy Ulster Club SFC quarter-final at Dungannon.

McLernon fired in 1-3 and McCurry landed five classy points from play, every one of those scores a precious commodity, their value only really appreciated when they eventually survived a late comeback from the Antrim champions.

The Tyrone men led by five going into the closing five minutes, but a penalty, netted by Paul Bradley, brought Brigid’s right back into it, and the home side was hanging on right at the end.

Both sides are first-time county champions, both with a dream of making more history on the provincial stage, and Edendork now have an opportunity to do that in a semi-final against the legendary Crossmaglen.

Edendork were almost punished for a poor kick-out right at the start, but Ronan McGrady could only manage a point to get the Belfast men off to an encouraging start. Goalkeeper Niall Morgan pushed on to pick off a two-pointer from play.

McCurry landed his second score pushing the Tyrone champions into a 0-5 to 0-2 lead, with JJ Higgins on target at the other end.

McCurry landed another gem as he drifted out wide to land another gem, and the St Malachy’s continued to press, with Harry Og Conlan and centre back Ben Cullen also hitting the target for a seven points gap.

In the 19th minute, the Antrim champions got themselves right back in it with a Joe Finnegan goal, punched home from Jack Dowling’s dropping delivery.

Dara Quinn brought them to within a point, finishing off a flowing move involving Finnegan, Higgins and Paul Bradley.

Edendork found an extra gear in the closing stages of the half, McCurry hitting his fourth, and when a short kick-out was intercepted, John McLernon clinically finished to the net for a 1-10 to 1-5 interval lead.

Niall Duffy caused immense problems for the Edendork defence as St Brigid’s battled their way back, hitting a tidy score and crafting the openings for points from James Smith and Patrick Finnegan.

JJ Higgins brought them to within three, and as the game moved into its final quarter, the Belfast men were beginning to believe.

Edendork were playing on the breakaway for stretches, corner back Dinal Maneely getting forward to punch over a point, and they looked safe when McCurry landed a typical score to put five between the sides.

Brigid’s were handed a lifeline with a 59th minute penalty, netted by Paul Bradley, and while Joe Logan brought them two within a point, they couldn’t find the elusive equaliser.

Scorers for Edendork: J McLernon 1-3, D McCurry 0-5, H Og Conlan, N Morgan (tp) 0-2 each, P McLernon, D Maneely, B Cullen 0-1 each.

Scorers for St Brigid’s: J Finnegan, P Bradley (pen) 1-0 each, JJ Higgins 0-3 (1f), N Duffy, R McGrady 0-2 each, D Quinn, P Finnegan, J Smith J Logan 0-1 each.

Edendork: N Morgan; D Maneely, F Devlin, P Donnelly; F Nelis, B Cullen, C Bell; C Kilpatrick, L Ferguson; P McLernon, C Mallon, H Og Conlan; D McCurry, J Fearon, J McLernon.

Sub: R Nelis for Fearon (55).

St Brigid’s: D Heery; O Downey, J Morgan, S Campbell; S Downey, J Finnegan, R Boyle; J Dowling, P Finnegan; R McGrady, D Quinn, P Bradley; N Duffy, J Smith, JJ Higgins.

Subs: P King for Dowling (42), J Logan for McGrady (42), B McGurk for Smith (53), R Carleton for Campbell (59).

Referee: C Dourneen (Cavan).