Edendork held on for a 1-15 to 2-11 win over St Brigid's in the Ulster Club Senior Football Championship quarter-final at Dungannon on Sunday, 8 November, surviving a late Antrim rally that came up a single point short.
The Tyrone champions led by five at the interval and looked comfortable for long stretches, but a 59th-minute penalty from Paul Bradley dragged the Belfast side back within a point and set up a frantic finish that Edendork just about weathered.
McCurry and Morgan set the tone early
According to RTE.ie's match report, the experience and class of the Tyrone title-holders told for most of the hour, even if the closing minutes were nervy. Goalkeeper Niall Morgan, never one to stay at home, pushed forward to knock over a two-pointer from play, and Darren McCurry landed his second of the day to put Edendork 0-05 to 0-02 ahead, with Ronan McGrady and JJ Higgins on target for St Brigid's.
John Morgan stuck close to McCurry in an effort to shut down the danger, but the Edendork sharpshooter still found room for another fine score. Pressing the Brigid's kick-out, the St Malachy's men kept the pressure on, with Harry Og Conlan and centre back Ben Cullen also hitting the target to open a seven-point gap.
St Brigid's, to their credit, refused to fold. In the 19th minute Joe Finnegan punched home a goal from Jack Dowling's dropping delivery, and Dara Quinn finished off a flowing move involving Finnegan, Higgins and Paul Bradley to bring the Antrim champions within a point.
Edendork find an extra gear before the break
The response was emphatic. McCurry hit his fourth of the afternoon, and when a short kick-out went astray, John McLernon finished clinically to the net for a 1-10 to 1-05 interval lead.
It was a half that showcased what this Edendork side does best: patient build-up, sharp finishing, and a willingness to attack from anywhere on the field, goalkeeper included. For a club wearing the Tyrone crown for the first time in its history, there was nothing timid about the approach.
The comeback that nearly was
The second half belonged, for long spells, to St Brigid's. Niall Duffy caused real problems for the Edendork defence, hitting a tidy score and crafting the openings that yielded points from James Smith and Patrick Finnegan. JJ Higgins narrowed the gap to three, and as the game entered its final quarter, the Belfast men started to believe.
Edendork were playing on the break, and corner back Dinal Maneely got forward to punch over a point. When McCurry landed a typical score to put five between the sides, the contest looked settled.
It was not. Bradley netted the 59th-minute penalty, Joe Logan added a point, and suddenly a single score separated the teams. St Brigid's pushed hard for the equaliser in the closing moments, but Edendork's defence held firm, and the final whistle confirmed a one-point win and a place in the last four.
What it means for the Ulster semi-final
The reward for Edendork is a semi-final against Crossmaglen Rangers, the Armagh giants, a fixture that carries real weight in Ulster club football. The Belfast Telegraph reported that the Tyrone men booked their spot with that single-point margin on Sunday evening, capping a historic first season as county champions.
For St Brigid's, there will be regrets. The Belfast club, also first-time county champions in Antrim, had their chances in a tie that neither side seemed desperate to win in the early exchanges. The Irish News noted that Edendork's number came up while St Brigid's counted the cost of missed opportunities.
Both clubs arriving at this stage for the first time gave the quarter-final a sense of bonus territory, and the football largely matched that mood: open, honest, and played in front of a Dungannon crowd that got value for its money.
Edendork skipper Conor Mallon had warned before the tie, as Belfast Live reported, that his side would need to improve on previous performances to beat the Antrim champions. He got the improvement for three quarters of the game; the last ten minutes will give him plenty to work on before Crossmaglen come calling.
Edendork finish the day in the Ulster semi-finals. Whether this squad has the legs to go further will be tested severely by a Rangers side that has made this competition its own down the years.
FAQ
What was the score in the Edendork v St Brigid's Ulster quarter-final?
Edendork won 1-15 to 2-11 at Dungannon on 8 November 2026, holding off a late St Brigid's rally that included a 59th-minute penalty.
Who scored the goals in the match?
John McLernon netted for Edendork before half-time. Joe Finnegan punched home St Brigid's first goal, and Paul Bradley scored their second from a penalty.
Who will Edendork face in the Ulster Club SFC semi-final?
Edendork will play Crossmaglen Rangers of Armagh in the semi-final.