Edendork set for historic Ulster debut after O'Neill Cup triumph over Errigal Ciaran

TYRONE’S three county champions set out on new adventures this weekend in the Ulster Club Championships, and for two of them, it’s a step into territory they have never before experienced.

Edendork compete in the Ulster SFC for the first time when they take on Down champions Clonduff at Pairc Esler in Newry on Saturday evening, while earlier in the day, Burren is the venue for Rock’s provincial IFC debut against Rostrevor.

And on Sunday, Fintona face Urris of Donegal in the junior series at O’Neills Healy Park in Omagh.

Had Edendork not won their maiden O’Neill Cup title, their attentions would have been turning to an entirely different challenge – a Tyrone Division One relegation play-off against Moortown.

Instead it’s their parish neighbours Dungannon who have been drawn into the battle to stay in senior football for 2027.

Defeat to Omagh in their last league game left Edendork with only one way to avoid the relegation play-off, and that was to go all the way and win the senior championship.

It was a long shot, but coach Malachy McGlinchey believes the prospect was a subconscious driving force for the players, who produced inspired performances against Ardboe, Clonoe, Donaghmore and Errigal Ciaran to claim their first ever senior title.

“Obviously, we had a difficult league campaign, and we could make excuses for that.

“But realistically, it’s about player availability at certain times.

“We had to nail that last game against Omagh, and ultimately we didn’t, they beat us by a point and we ended up in the relegation play-off.

“I was the last man to speak that day in the changing room in Omagh, and I said, we have two chances to stay up, and believe me, it went down like a lead balloon.

“But we have taken advantage of the first opportunity that we had, in winning the championship.

“Now it seemed like the furthest thing from our minds that day that Omagh put us in to a relegation play-off, but maybe at the back or our minds, that was what was secretly driving us – to avoid that pitfall of having to play Moortown in a play-off.

“So it’s bitter-sweet. It was a tough day that day in Omagh, but if we reflect on things, it had a big impact on our performances throughout the championship.”

McGlinchey has had a sneak preview of this weekend’s opponents Clonduff, and took the opportunity to study their strengths and weaknesses in the Down final against Burren.

That was even before Edendork had faced Errigal Ciaran in the first of two epic Tyrone final thrillers.

“Whether it was being presumptuous or not, I did watch their county final against Burren, and they were seriously impressive,” he said.

“Any team that comes through the Down championship, with Kilcoo in that championship, are an exceptional team.

“But then you can say the same about us, with the likes of Errigal Ciaran, Killyclogher, Trillick, Loughmacrory and those quality teams that we have in this championship.”

Clonduff return to the senior provincial stage for the first time in 26 years to take on a club never previously involved at this level.

The Down champions will take the field at Pairc Esler refreshed and recharged, three weeks on from their count final victory over Burren, but for Edendork, the celebrations have barely wound down following last weekend’s emotional replay triumph.

“It’s difficult to know what we’ll face on Saturday night, or the shape we’ll be in, mentally maybe more than physically,” said McGlinchey.

“But when it comes to it, we’ll be giving out absolute all to represent Tyrone to the best of our abilities.”

County players Darren McCurry, Conn Kilpatrick, Niall Morgan and Ben Cullen for the star-studded spine of a team that has built strength and quality in other areas to raise Edendork to elite level as first-time county champions.

“We all know the stars we have in our team, but we have serious quality rowing in behind them.

“Those boys drive the standards and they have raised the standards of all the other players in our team.

“We have some exceptional competitors, really good lads, really coachable lads, and they really wanted it so much.

“So when you have all that, you have every chance of competing at this level.

“I’m just so delighted that we got over the line, because as Conor (Mallon) said in his speech, there might not be too many more chances for us.

“Who knows what the future holds, we had to nail it.”

It was goalkeeper Niall Morgan who nailed it with a sensational conversion from a 45 metre free deep into stoppage time, leaving Errigal bereft and with no time to respond.

“For Niall to step up and kick a two-pointer, it’s just the stuff that dreams are made of to win that game by a point with time expired, it’s unbelievable,” said McGlinchey.

He insisted that a huge amount of the credit for an unprecedented success must go to Niall McGuinness and Joe McGuckin, whose management of the reserve team was carefully moulded to provide back-up for the senior squad.

“So much work has gone in to getting us into this position.

“A lot of credit must go to Niall McGuinness and Joe McGuckin for the work they have done with the reserve team this year.

“They came in, they made sure every fixture was fulfilled, we won our first round championship game, we were seriously competitive all year.

“Those 15 guys that didn’t get game time out here today drove the other lads in training, and that’s why we were able to raise our level to win a senior championship in Tyrone.

“It was Niall and Joe coming on board and taking the reserves so seriously, and it was an absolute squad effort.

“Everybody that was involved in Edendork today, whether it be seniors or reserves, can take equal credit in that victory.”

With four players involved with the Tyrone squad, a small club like Edendork inevitably suffers when their key figures are missing for a number of league games, but the issue was managed in the most effective way possible.

“It’s difficult when the lads are on county duty. That’s when you might even struggle to field a reserve team, but Niall and Joe were adamant that wasn’t going to happen this year.

“By hook or by crook, they got a team out, and all of a sudden, you have 30, 35 training every night, and with that, the work you can do in training is so productive and all of a sudden standards start to rise, bit by bit.”