Star-studded Edendork cruise to Intermediate triumph

By Niall Gartland

Edendork 1-17

Gortin 1-9

EDENDORK’S star performers clicked into gear as they recorded a reasonably straightforward victory over Gortin in tonight’s Intermediate Championship final at Healy Park.

Darren McCurry in particular was absolutely outstanding throughout, racking up a personal tally of 1-8, and after a tight enough start to proceedings, his 14th minute goal paved the way for Edendork’s eventual victory.

And what a peach of a goal it was too as he turned his man on the 45 metre line, put on the afterburners and expertedly planted the ball past Gortin goalkeeper Chris Greene.

Their momentum was temporarily threatened when his county colleague Niall Morgan had to go off with a bloodied face, but when he returned to the play, bandage and all, he gave a real exhibition for the remainder of the contest, topped off by two massive points from distance.

By half-time Edendork had raced into a 1-9 to 0-4 lead with another county man, Conn Kilpatrick, playing brilliantly in the middle, and the game was already effectively over as a contest.

They didn’t take the foot off the pedal, hitting five of the first six points after the resumption, but Gortin refused to wave the white flag, improving considerably as the contest enter its latter stages.

With Shane Clarke and Ruairi Keenan acting as targetmen, they hit a number of late scores, including an injury-time goal from the 39-year-old Clarke.

A fracas broke out on the sideline as the final whistle approached, with Gortin boss Colm McGarvey taking a tumble, but order was restored and Edendork hit the last point of the game, a 60 metre free from Morgan.

Edendork skipper Conor Mallon raised the Paddy Cullen Cup after the game, and he promised that there’s much more to come from a St Malachy’s side who ultimately had far too much potency in attack for Gortin to handle.