Edendork hold off St Brigid's to reach Ulster Club SFC semi-finals
Edendork advanced to the Ulster Senior Club Football Championship semi-finals following a narrow quarter-final victory over St Brigid's.
Edendork secured their place in the last four after holding off a late fightback from St Brigid's.
Edendork continued their historic run in the provincial series by defeating St Brigid's in a dramatic quarter-final encounter in the Ulster Senior Club Football Championship. The Tyrone champions triumphed with a narrow victory at O'Neill Park in Dungannon. Both sides arrived at the fixture as county champions for the first time in their respective histories, setting up a high-stakes clash that RTÉ described as being played in a sense of bonus territory.
Media additions
The match began with Edendork establishing early control. Goalkeeper Niall Morgan pressed forward to chip in with a two-pointer from play, helping build an initial cushion alongside Darren McCurry. McCurry proved to be the standout talisman for the Tyrone title-holders, finishing as his side's top scorer with five points. However, the Belfast opponents refused to cede momentum entirely. In the 19th minute, Joseph Finnegan punched home a goal from a dropping delivery by Jack Dowling, dragging the Antrim champions right back into contention.
St Brigid's had entered the contest facing fitness concerns, notably regarding Patrick Finnegan. As reported by Belfast Live ahead of the game, the Antrim star had faced a race against time to prove his fitness after pulling a calf muscle late in the Antrim county final. Despite the injury concerns, the Belfast side continued to ask questions during the second period, with Niall Duffy causing immense problems for the Edendork defence and creating openings for James Smith and Patrick Finnegan.
Edendork responded before the interval by finding another gear. Capitalising on an intercepted short kick-out, John McLernon clinically finished to the net, sending the Tyrone outfit into the half-time break with a distinct advantage. St Brigid's kept pushing as the game moved forward, with players such as JJ Higgins and Dara Quinn also adding to the scoreboard for the Belfast outfit.
As the game entered its dying stages, Edendork looked to have safely negotiated the threat. McCurry landed another typical score to stretch the margin, but a dramatic twist arrived in the closing moments. St Brigid's were awarded a penalty in the 59th minute, which Paul Bradley converted to reduce the deficit to two points. In the final seconds, substitute Joe Logan knocked over a point rather than searching for the equalising goal or a two-pointer that might have forced extra time, leaving The Irish News to note that St Brigid's were left to count the cost of missed chances.
Match Statistics Breakdown
| Team | Final Score | Half-Time Score | Key Scorers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edendork | 1-15 | 1-10 | Darren McCurry (0-05), John McLernon (1-03), Niall Morgan (0-02) |
| St Brigid's | 2-11 | 1-05 | Paul Bradley (1-00), JJ Higgins (0-03), Joseph Finnegan (1-00) |
The defeat extends a difficult historical trend for Antrim representatives in provincial fixtures. It is now 14 years since an Antrim side won a game in the Ulster Championship in normal time, with Cargin's win on penalties against Glenties in 2022 is the only win for a team from the county on this stage.
Edendork will now advance to face Armagh champions Crossmaglen Rangers in the last four.
