Goalkeeper Niall Morgan the hero as last gasp two-pointer secures first ever Tyrone SFC title for Edendork
HERO: Niall Morgan of Edendork celebrates after he scored the winning two pointer free kick. Pic: ©INPHO/Andrew Paton.
Niall Morgan stepped up to convert a 45-metre free deep into stoppage time and win a first ever Tyrone SFC title for Edendork.
A gripping replay went right to the wire, after the sides had finished level last Sunday, and Peter Harte looked like he has clinched it for Errigal Ciaran with a 62nd minute point, his fifth of the evening.
But Conn Kilpatrick drove forward in one last desperate push for the St Malachy’s, winning the free that goalkeeper Morgan drilled between the posts for a two-point winner.
The tears of joy flowed in an emotional release on the greatest day in the club’s 94-year history.
For the second successive year, the O’Neill Cup has been claimed by a first-time finalist, a reminder of the fiercely competitive nature of a championship that’s been won by ten different clubs in the last 20 years.
Now Edendork are about to break new ground as Tyrone’s representatives in the Ulster Club Championship, taking their bow in next Saturday’s first round meeting with Down champions Clonduff.
Darren McCurry, also last gasp hero with an injury time two-point equaliser five days earlier, was too hot for his Tyrone team-mate Cormac Quinn to handle, darting through to pick off four points from play in the opening quarter.
But those classy scores weren’t enough to get his side ahead as Errigal, powering forward off Darragh McAnenly’s excellent kick-outs, had a response for each one.
Odhran Robinson, Shea McDermott, Peter Harte and Peter Og McCartan were all on target for the Dunmoyle men as they edged in front by 0-5 to 0-4.
They went four clear with a 20th minute Padraig McGirr goal. McCartan swapped passes with Harte before sending McGirr in to slide the ball low past Niall Morgan.
McDermott missed a chance to stretch the gap to six as a two-point free tailed just wide, and Edendork took full advantage, finishing the half with a flourish, and 1-3 without reply.
Fiachra Nelis intercepted a shot Errigal kick-out to release Luke Ferguson, who was fouled by ‘keeper Darragh McAnenly, and McCurry stepped up to slot the penalty to the bottom corner of the net.
They went in with a 1-8 to 1-6 interval lead, but Harte was the driving force Errigal needed to get them back on terms, and another brace of scores from the former Tyrone stars had his side level.
The St Malachy’s had their own inspirational figure in centre back Ben Cullen, who powered through to send over two crucial scores, sending them into the final quarter ahead by 1-10 to 1-8.
Ruairi Canavan came off the bench to add a spark to the Errigal attack, hitting a couple of scores to set the game on a knife-edge, and it was Harte who brought them level, before hitting the 62nd minute lead point.
Edendork refused to accept it was gone, and when Con Kilpatrick won a foul on the 45-metre line, Morgan stepped up to send the free sailing between the posts with virtually the last kick of the game.
D McCurry 1-6 (1-0 pen, 0-2f), N Morgan 0-3 (1tpf, 1 ’45), B Cullen 0-2, P McLernon, J McLernon, C Bell 0-1 each.
P McGirr 1-0, P Harte 0-5, S McDermott 0-4 (3f), R Canavan 0-2, P Og McCartan, O Robinson 0-1 each.
N Morgan; D Maneely, F Devlin, N Kilpatrick; F Nelis, B Cullen, C Bell; C Kilpatrick, L Ferguson; P McLernon, C Mallon, J Ferguson; D McCurry, H Og Conlan, J McLernon.
J Fearon for L Ferguson (33), S Corr for F Nelis (51).
D McAnenly; C Quinn; A McCrory, R O’Sullivan; T Colhoun, N Kelly, P Og McCartan; B McDonnell, P McGirr; P Traynor, P Harte, A Quinn; S McDermott, O Robinson, J Oguz.
R Canavan for Traynor (36), M Mullin for McCartan (40), E Kelly for McGirr (42), C McGinley for O’Sullivan (54), T Canavan for Oguz (57).
C Forbes (Ardboe).
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