Tyrone SFC quarter-final: Galbally v Edendork (tonight, healy Park, 8.30pm)
AT least one outsider will make it to the last four in this year’s LCC Tyrone SFC, thanks to this evening’s meeting of Galbally and Edendork.
They meet at Healy Park in a quarter-final tie which represents a massive opportunity for both clubs to fly high in the championship.
Two evenly matched sides are set to engage in what is expected to be a closely fought contest.
It’s Edendork who possess the greater offensive threat, with accomplished finishers Darren McCurry and Paul Donaghy leading the line, but the Pearses are also capable of racking up the scores, through Daniel Kerr, Cormac Donnelly and Sean Murphy.
Galbally’s young side scored a morale-boosting first round win over Pomeroy, easing clear in extra-time after they had finished level after 60 minutes.
The St Malachy’s also came through a tight contest, with just a point to spare in their meeting with Moy, and both sides could be headed for another gripping finish at Omagh this evening in a game that will be streamed live on the Internet.
Full forward Daniel Kerr is hoping Galbally can find the spark required to get over another hurdle and book a place in the last four.
“We’ll have to build on that, but we can put in another big performance. It’s a great lift to get a first round championship win,” said Kerr.
“Pomeroy is a very good side, they were unlucky not to get to the final last year, so it took everything we had, full-time and extra-time, it took everything.
“We knew what we were up against coming into it. It was going to take a massive performance and it was going to go right down to the wire, and that’s what happened.”
Kerr knows it won’t be easy against a well organised Edendork defence that restricted Moy to 0-9 at O’Neill Park.
“It’s on to Edendork now. We know what we’re up against. They’re a good side, but we’ll be ready for them.
Kerr is one of several emerging stars in the Galbally club making an impact at senior level, but they also have significant experience within the side, striking a balance that they hope can take them further in the O’Neill Cup series.
“We have a good mix there from older to young. We have a lot of young players, but they all have good heads and they showed that to win a great game.”
Meanwhile, Edendork manager Damian Barton feels former Tyrone attacker Darren McCurry could hold the key to victory under the Healy Park floodlights.
And the former Derry boss sees McCurry as much more than just an ace finisher.
“Darren orchestrates. I think he’s the sort of player that can play anywhere in the middle third,” said Barton.
“He has been pigeon-hold a lot up in the inside line, or that’s what he’s recognised as, but he’s a good footballer. He has pace, and he can come off the shoulder very quick.
“He has that bit of confidence as well, so delighted for him and delighted for the team.”
And midfielder Conn Kilpatrick is another influential figure for the St Malachy’s having marked his return from injury with a towering display against Moy.
“Conn, playing with an injury, I think he showed a serious amount of character. He was out for ten weeks with a cracked bone in a foot. I thought he was tremendous, a player with a great future,” said Barton.
