Edendork into last four after surviving Stewartstown scare

Edendork 1-17 Rock 1-12

In the end Edendork justified their favourites tag at Stewartstown to advance to the semi finals of the LCC Intermediate championship but they were given a real fright by a Rock side that pushed them all the way.

It was a high quality contest between two well drilled sides on a day when both actually played better when against the wind. With 10 minutes gone on the clock, wind assisted Edendork looked to be in complete control when four points to the good but Rock hit back and it took a late Darren McCurry brace to leave the winners only trailing by the minimum at the break.

In an action packed second half Rock moved three clear with just over 20 minutes left on the clock but then Edendork really came to the fore as they outscored their opponents 1-6 to 0-1 to book a last four clash with Tattyreagh.

Edendork centre half back Stephen Corr opened the scoring inside 25 seconds but Rock levelled matters with a brilliant effort from Shea Daly into the wind. Edendork then hit the next four scores, all from placed balls, with two of those sublime efforts from Niall Morgan from around 55m out.

Shane Murphy demonstrated that he could do likewise with a superb long range free into the wind and in the 13th minute the sides were level when a flowing Rock moved finished with a well taken Padraig Ward goal.

Murphy knocked over a '45' with Liam Nugent landing a superb point from play before the latter also converted a 20m free. McCurry made no mistake from a close in free but Nugent responded at the other end of the field with another super score with his weaker left foot. Edendork were in trouble but crucially the impressive McCurry hit two quality scores from play just before the break to reduce the deficit to 1-6 to 0-8.

Morgan levelled matters seconds after the restart with a monster 55m free into the wind before Edendork were awarded a 35th minute penalty. McCurry took the kick but Rock keeper James McAuley produced an outstanding stop at the expense of a point, one of three or four saves that he made during the contest.

Aidan McGarrity and McCurry traded points before Rock hit a purple patch. Enda McWilliams, Nugent (2) and substitute Conor McCreesh all registered and suddenly Rock were 1-11 to 0-11 in front. Edendork were in deep trouble but they didn’t panic as they played their best football of the game to restrict their opponents to just one further point.

Harry Og Conlon pointed and two minutes later the same player gave his side a lead that they were never to lose when he was in the right place at the right time to hammer the ball to the net after a McCurry effort had come back off the post. Conor Mallon and McCurry tagged on points before Nugent got what proved to be Rock’s last score of the game.

Daire Conway got his name on the scoresheet with a fine effort from out on the right wing before McCurry hit one of the scores of the game after going past three or four challenges. A ninth point from Tyrone attacker McCurry brought the scoring to a close as Edendork made it through to the semi finals.

Edendork scorers – Darren McCurry 0-9 (4f), Niall Morgan 0-4 (3f, 1 '45'), Harry Og Conlon 1-1, Stephen Corr 0-1, Daire Conway 0-1, Conor Mallon 0-1

Rock scorers – Liam Nugent 0-6 (2f), Padraig Ward 1-0, Shane Murphy 0-2 (1f, 1 '45'), Enda McWilliams 0-1, Aidan McGarrity 0-1, Shea Daly 0-1, Conor McCreesh 0-1

Referee – Mark Loughran, Errigal Ciaran