Back
Edendork 1-14 Errigal Ciarán 1-13
Niall Morgan kicked a glorious 45 metre free deep into stoppage time to win a first ever Tyrone SFC title for Edendork in a gripping replay at O'Neills Healy Park.
Errigal Ciran were clinging on to a slender one point lead after Peter Harte’s fifth score had edged them ahead in the 62nd minute.
But Tyrone goalkeeper Morgan struck sweetly to raise a triumphant orange flag and deny the pre-match favourites a third title in five years.
Emotional scenes greeted the full-time whistle, fans storming the pitch to celebrate the greatest day in the 94-year history of the St Malachy’s club.
For the second year in a row, the notoriously unpredictable Tyrone SFC has produced a maiden champion, Edendork following reigning champions Loughmacrory, who also triumphed in their first appearance in a decider.
Now one of the county’s smallest clubs will progress to represent the county in the Ulster Club Championship, with a first round test against Down champions Clonduff at Pairc Esler next weekend.
McCurry was on fire in the opening stages, hitting four points from play inside the first quarter, but those classy scores weren’t enough to get his side ahead.
Odhran Robinson, Shea McDermott, Peter Harte and Peter Og McCartan were all on target for the Dunmoyle men as they edged in front by 0-05 to 0-04.
And they opened out a four points gap with a Padraig McGirr goal. McCartan pressed from deep to trade passes with Harte before sending McGirr in to slide the ball low past Niall Morgan.
McDermott passed up 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.
Edendork: N Morgan (0-03, 1tpf, 1 ’45); D Maneely, F Devlin, N Kilpatrick; F Nelis, B Cullen (0-02), C Bell (0-01); C Kilpatrick, L Ferguson; P McLernon (0-01), C Mallon, J Ferguson; D McCurry (1-06, 1-0 pen, 0-2f), H Og Conlan, J McLernon (0-01).
Subs: J Fearon for L Ferguson (33), S Corr for F Nelis (51).
Errigal Ciaran: D McAnenly; C Quinn; A McCrory, R O’Sullivan; T Colhoun, N Kelly, P Og McCartan (0-01); B McDonnell, P McGirr (1-00); P Traynor, P Harte (0-05), A Quinn; S McDermott (0-04, 3f), O Robinson (0-01), J Oguz.
Subs: R Canavan (0-02) for Traynor (36), M Mullin for McCartan (40), E Kelly for McGirr (42), C McGinley for O’Sullivan (54), T Canavan for Oguz (57)
Referee: C Forbes (Ardboe).