Draw 'probably a fair result' – Edendork manager McGuckin on Edendork's debut final appearance

Edendork manager Brian McGuckin is grateful for a second chance as he prepares his team for the

Connollys of Moy Tyrone Senior Football Championship replay on Friday evening.

Darren McCurry’s last gasp two-pointer rescued the St Malachy’s in dramatic circumstances, and the

sides will meet again at O’Neills Healy Park in the first county final rematch since 2000, when Errigal

defeated Carrickmore at the second attempt.

“I'm relieved that we've got a second chance. I feel that we have a lot of areas to improve on and we're

going to have to be much better in order to compete and win on next Friday night,” said McGuckin.

He felt his players took some time to settle to the big occasion in front of a crowd of 7,105, but was

relieved that an Errigal attack missing ace finisher Darragh Canavan was off-colour.

“The first half was extremely nervy on our behalf and if I'm going to be completely honest with you I felt

that Errigal nearly kicked themselves out of it in the first half.

“They kicked a lot of wides and they could have had us out of sight. So we were probably very content

with where we were at halftime knowing that we hadn't played well and obviously we made a couple of

personnel changes at the start of the second half and they certainly worked obviously with Fiachra scoring

the goal after the restart.

“I just felt that in the first half we were maybe taking an extra touch out of the ball that wasn't needed in

the numbers that was required to create overlaps and create scoring opportunities.

“We had plenty of possession in the first half but it was maybe playing in our first county final for a lot of

these boys it was an atmosphere that they wouldn't be used to and it took the first half for us to find our

feet.

“But we went in at half-time pretty disappointed but relieved that Errigal weren't punishing us at the other

end of the pitch.”

It looked as if the St Malachy’s might hold on for the victory after McCurry had edged them a point ahead

with just a minute of normal time to play, but Errigal refused to bend, and came back with a two-pointer

and a point to go back in front in a gripping finish.

Goalkeeper Darren McAnenly’s excellent kick-outs were the platform for many Errigal attacks, including

the late onslaught that took them to the verge of victory.

“Darren had scored a point with two minutes of normal time to go a point up and I just felt that the next

kick-out was vital and Errigal won it.”

“That's certainly an area that we're going to have to do a lot of work on because I thought McAnenly was

exceptional.

“I suppose we were sort of changing tack to try and counteract it but to no avail really.”

In the immediate aftermath, the Edendork boss was struggling with his emotions as he processed the

drama that had unfolded before him.

“Do you know what, if I'm going to be completely honest with you, I have a lot of mixed thoughts at the

moment.

“So I'm delighted that we've got another chance and we'll go back to the drawing board, we'll prepare and

be ready for Friday night.”

None of the Edendork players had ever appeared in a senior championship final, but now they have that

experience to take with them into the rematch this weekend, and the manager is hoping they can put that

to good use.

“I felt that we were very, very nervy in the first half and didn't play anywhere near our potential and if I'm

to be completely honest, Errigal kicked quite a few wides in the first half and if even half of them had

went over it would have put us in a very, very compromising position at half-time.

“We had a brilliant start to the second half that got us back in the game and then really and truly it was

just nip and tuck to the final whistle and if I'm to be completely honest with you, I feel that a draw was

probably a fair result and we go again then on Friday night.”

The late chaos that saw McCurry’s brilliant score disallowed and then reinstated saw Edendork players

and management plead vehemently for officials to accept that injured defender Correy Bell had been lying

on the ground receiving treatment in his own half and was therefore the third man back.

McGuckin said: “Well, it was a breach that was called initially. I could see two of our players and I saw

Niall (Morgan) crossing halfway and then someone said to me, don't worry, Correy's to our right and

Correy was standing there so I was fine with that.

“I can understand how the linesman didn't see Correy so I can understand why it was called from his

perspective but I'm just delighted that the officials took time and came to the right conclusion.”

And when the ball was shifted to McCurry with just enough space to get his shot away deep into stoppage

time, McGuckin was happy that the right man was in the right position at the right time.

“Look, there's probably nobody else that we would want on the ball in that moment, in that position,

under that kind of pressure and once the ball left his boot I was in a fantastic position I could see that it

was going over the bar so just delighted to see it go over and relieved that we've got a second chance.”

Edendork had been prolific two-point scorers in the current championship, but McCurry’s late effort was

the only orange flag they managed to raise in the final.

“That's true and I suppose we had a couple of two-point efforts in the second half and they didn't come off

but the important one went over, thank God.”

This week will be all about recovery and preparation for what is certain to be another intriguing contest,

and Edendork remain determined to claim the O’Neill Cup for the first time.

“We just need to recover first and foremost, and Errigal's no different, so recovery first and foremost and

then we'll obviously analyse and we'll try and come up with a plan that's going to benefit us on Friday

night.

“But Errigal are no different to ourselves, so we'll go again Friday night and let the best team win.”