Edendork survive scare to set up Cross battle

Edendork St Malachy’s held on, game management in the closing stages helping them over the line.

Darren McCurry scored 0-5 for Edenork St.Malachy's. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Ulster Club SFC quarter-final: Edendork 1-15 St Brigid’s 2-11

Edendork survived a late scare to scrape past St Brigid’s and into an Ulster Club SFC semi-final tie against the might of Crossmaglen.

The Tyrone champions led by five going into the closing five minutes at Dungannon, but the Antrim men, like their opponents county champions for the first time, refused to believe that their story was done.

Paul Bradley slotted home a penalty to set up a tight finish, but  St Malachy’s held on, game management in the closing stages helping them over the line.

Darren McCurry’s five points proved to be gold for the home side, while teenager John McLernon sparked with 1-3 for the Red Hand title-holders.

After a nervous start, which saw Niall Morgan gift a chance to Ronan McGrady with a poor kick-out which was only punished for a point, Edendork began to find their flow.

Goalkeeper Morgan pressed forward to pick off a two-pointer from play, and when McCurry landed his second, the Tyrone men led by 0-5 to 0-2, Ronan McGrady and JJ Higgins on target for the Belfast side.

John Morgan stuck tightly to McCurry, but could do nothing to prevent the Tyropne star from landing another gem.

Pressing the Brigid’s kick-out, the St Malachy’s continued to advance, with Harry Og Conlan and centre back Ben Cullen also hitting the target for a seven points gap.

But 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.

But it was Edendork who 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.

But 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.

Edendork scorers: 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.

St Brigid’s scorers: 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).