“This is the pinnacle of my career. I’ve won an All-Ireland, I’ve two All-Stars.
“This is it. This is as good as it gets. It’s never going to get better than this.”
Niall Morgan may have made his name with Tyrone, but he insisted that this triumph with his club tops anything won in county colours.
Up there with the modern-day goalkeeping greats, his scoring ability has long been known for both Edendork and the Red Hands – but he’ll never get a more memorable one than the winning two-pointer.
The St Malachy’s had led for most of second half, indeed since Darren McCurry’s superbly struck penalty goal in first half injury time.
Yet it looked like Errigal Ciaran would do what they have done so often and eke out a victory after scores from substitute Ruairi Canavan and captain Petey Harte combined to put them in front in added time.
Instead, Conn Kilpatrick won a free and Morgan stepped up to send the ball over the bar – and everyone connected with his club into a frenzy of delirious delight.
Green smoke at last, soaring up to heaven.
Morgan thought of others, afterwards, the older heads and the faithful departed.
“This, being the first team in Edendork’s history. I’ve mentioned my dad in other interviews, and just what this means to him. Mick McGuckin, Brian’s da, on his 80th birthday.
“There are so many unbelievable clubmen that never got to see this. I’d say there’s a good party going on up there tonight, and they’re enjoying it just as much as we will.”
A little help had been called down from above, too.
“We came together last week at Mass, and Paul Mallon, who’s an ex-chairman, is the deacon. He got a standing ovation for the homily; it’s not too often you see that at a Mass.
“The passion that you could see coming out of him on an altar. That, giving you the belief, it just felt like destiny. It felt like something was brewing, and we’ve got over the line.”
The power went out briefly in Omagh before throw-in, affecting the broadcast on ‘Tyrone TV’, so you really had to be here to appreciate this.
As in the drawn game Edendork began nervously, with handling errors and losses of possession.
The difference was that McCurry continued where he’d left off last Sunday, taking scores – his side’s first four, before teenager John McLernon, brought into the team, got his name on the scoresheet.
That point, however, was followed by an Errigal goal in the 20th minute, Harte combining with Peter Og McCartan for the latter to supply midfielder Padraig McGirr, who slid a low shot past the advancing Morgan into the net.
As the half neared an end, a key moment came – a rare poor kick-out from Morgan’s opposite number Darragh McAnenley.
Edendork hands seized the ball and the goalkeeper, in trying to redeem himself, brought down Luke Ferguson.
‘Dazzler’ drilled the penalty inside the right-hand post, then scored his second free, to bring his first half tally to 1-6, and put his team two up, 1-8 to 1-6.
Peter Harte, as influential as ever, soon levelled matters, and the trophy remained up for grabs until the very end.
Ben Cullen, a powerhouse again, strode forward to kick two points, but Errigal kept coming back at them.
The quality of Harte and his brother-in-law Ruairi Canavan appeared to have brought title number 10 to Errigal, and a 12th to Ballygawley – but Edendork made their breakthrough instead.
From Gortin Road back to almost as far as Gortin townland, but there was only one place for the party to start, Morgan knew – Arthur Mallon Park:
“Back at the club - I don’t know where it’ll go on from there. I’d say it’ll be bright before we decide the next steps, but we’re going to enjoy this as a club.
“We’ve waited 94 years to get to a final, never mind to win one, so we’re definitely going to enjoy this one.”
Edendork: N Morgan 0-3 (0-1 ‘45’, 2pf); D Maneely, F Devlin, N Kilpatrick; F Nelis, B Cullen 0-2, C Bell 0-1; C Kilpatrick, L Ferguson; P McLernon 0-1, C Mallon (capt.), J Ferguson; D McCurry 1-6 (0-2f), H Og Conlan, J McLernon 0-1.
Substitutes: J Fearon for L Ferguson (inj., 34); S Corr for F Nelis (52).
Errigal Ciaran: D McAnenly; C Quinn, A McCrory, R O’Sullivan; T Colhoun, N Kelly, P Og McCartan 0-1; B McDonnell, P McGirr 1-0; P Traynor, P Harte (capt.) 0-5, A Quinn; S McDermott 0-4 (0-1f), O Robinson 0-1, J Oguz.
Substitutes: R Canavan 0-2 for Traynor (36); M Mullin for McCartan (41); E Kelly for McGirr (43); C McGinley for O’Sullivan (54).
Referee: Cathal Forbes (Ardboe).
