Clonduff fall short in Ulster as Edendork advance
Clonduff's hopes of progressing in the Ulster championship were dashed as Edendork secured a crucial victory.
ULSTER GAA AIB SENIOR CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP – PRELIMINARY ROUND
Clonduff 0-12 Edendork 0-17
By Steve Malone
CLONDUFF’S Ulster journey came to conclusion after being frustrated and largely dominated by Edendork.
Played in Newry’s Pairc Esler on Saturday night, the Halloween fireworks lit up the city sky but for Clonduff it turned more of a damp squib. That’s because they never really found any sort of groove, they played in fits and starts and some of the missed scoring chances you couldn’t legislate for.
Of course, Edendork deserve all the credit, they bossed the midfield battle, they didn’t permit the Yellas, who were wearing white jersey’s, to find any kind of rhythm but still Clonduff could have got something from the game. That’s because they kicked 15 wides, while they fluffed chances in front of goal, especially in the final minutes when the game was in the mix and Clonduff had gained some momentum.
So, it wasn’t to be for Clonduff, but that doesn’t make their season any less incredible, because there are men that walk among us who are senior county champions and especially in Down, that is an elite group.
Darren O’Hagan has been a magnificent leader, he hinted after the lifting the Frank O’Hare Cup, that he could be calling it a day and while on Saturday, the former Down captain showed that he has plenty more to offer, he owes nothing to anyone but himself.
Edendork had their homework done, they kept Down’s Eamon Brown quiet, Dan Rafferty wasn’t his usual bustling self, while there were bright sparks from Stephen McConville, Shane Close, Senan and Charlie Carr, while Barry O’Hagan and Arthur McConville had mixed results in front of the posts. But those guys have their county medals secure, they will winter well and there will be no rush to decide how they want to approach next season.
Instead, it is Edendork will face Antrim champions St Brigid’s, which is managed by Clonduff’s Cathal Murray, in Omagh next weekend.
The Tyrone men were worthy winners and will go into next weekend’s contest with confidence after keeping a frustrated Clonduff at arms-length
Edendork controlled the tempo, had time to pick their passes and they unsettled Clonduff, who, while playing second fiddle, still managed to create 15 first half scoring chances, but only executed them on five occasions.
Edendork, didn’t look like a team had been celebrating all last weekend, nor was there even a hint of nerves but when you have Conn Kilpatrick, who picked up an All-Star on Friday night, leading the midfield and county duo goalkeeper Niall Morgan and razor-sharp attacker Darren McCurry (0-08), it shouldn’t come as a surprise.
It took the Tyrone men only six minutes to go in front with points from McCurry and young John McLernon, who replied to Arthur McConville’s converted free
McCurry’s two-pointer was a stunning effort, and while Barry O’Hagan and Stephen McConville hit back with scores, it was the unmarked Niall Morgan who launched over a two-pointer to put some distance between the sides with only 14 minutes gone.
The Yellas grew frustrated as they seemed to squander chance after chance, although Eamon Brown register a point. Clonduff struggled to get their kick-outs away with Kilpatrick and young John McLernon, lording the middle. In fact, Clonduff only won two of their first 15 kickouts to the middle. Momentum was with Edendork but the breach before the break gave the Yellas a lifeline and Stephen McConville converted in an eight-points swing. Clonduff 0-06 Edendork 0-10
Edendork had increased their lead to seven points by the time the game had crept into the last quarter.
Kickouts were the main reason, Clonduff couldn’t get theirs away, but it looked more promising for the Down champions when Arthur McConville grabbed his second point, only a minute into the restart, but that proved to be false dawn.
Because the Yellas were at sixes and sevens in attack, with loose play whereas Edendork were playing smart with McCurry, Luke Ferguson and the brilliant John McLernon pulling the strings. McCurry fired over his second two-pointer and McLernon sold a clever dummy before tapping over his second of the evening.
Stephen McConville fired over to make it six-point game, but his team-mates fluffed their chances as Clonduff went short with two 45’s and came away with nothing and they also had opportunities in front of goal but failed to even pull the trigger.
That said, the Edendork defending was exceptional, they were intense, put the Yellas under pressure and turned possession over several times. Conleith Gilligan is among the coaching staff with the Tyrone outfit, and his fingerprints are all over this lively and mobile team.
Still, Clonduff kept plugging away and two points in a row from Senan Carr and another from Barry O’Hagan gave the Yellas hope, they were creating chances, the game had opened up but the Tyrone champions provided answers on each occasion as McCurry bagged his eighth point and Patrick McLernon chipped over to make sure Edendork were into the next round.
It simply didn’t happen for the Yellas, it was a rather forgettable display in a club season that will live long in memory for everyone connected to Clonduff and further afield.
CLONDUFF: Aaron Sherry, Jamie O’Hagan, Shane Close, Ben McConville, Jayme Gribben, Darren O’Hagan, Dan Rafferty, Ross Carr, Senan Carr, Tom Close, Charlie Carr, Stephen McConville, Barry O’Hagan, Arthur McConville, Eamon Brown.
Subs used: Peter McEvoy for J Gribben (49’), Patrick O’Hagan for A McConville (56’).
Clonduff scorers: Stephen McConville (0-04, 1tpf), Barry O’Hagan (0-03, 0-1f), Arthur McConville (0-02, 0-1f), Senan Carr (0-02) Eamon Brown (0-01).
EDENDORK: Niall Morgan, Donal Maneely, Fionn Devlin, Padraig Donnelly, Fiachra Nelis, Ben Cullen, Correy Bell, Conn Kilpatrick, Luke Ferguson, Patrick McLarnon, Conor Mallon, Daire Conway, Darren McCurry, Harry Og Conlan, John McLernon.
Sub used: James Fearon for Conway (ht)¸Rian Nelis for B Cullen (41’), Conor Mallon for J Fearon (54’).
Edendork scorers: Darren McCurry (0-08, 1tp, 1tpf), Niall Morgan (0-04, 1tp, 1tpf), John McLernon (0-02), Fiachra Nelis (0-01), Patrick McLernon (0-01), Correy Bell (0-01).
Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan).