Coney has high hopes for entertaining Tyrone SFC final replay

By Niall Gartland

SUNDAY’S drawn encounter wasn’t really a game for the ages, but former Tyrone footballer Kyle Coney anticipates a more entertaining spectacle in Friday night’s Tyrone Senior Championship replay between Errigal Ciaran and Edendork.

Coney believes that Edendork, appearing in their first ever final at this level, were afflicted by a degree of nerves, while he also expects Errigal Ciaran to learn from their own deficiences in a game that, while close on the scoreboard throughout, never really caught fire from a spectator perspective.

Coney said: “There were probably a bit of nerves from Edendork’s point of view. None of them had played a senior county final before so it’s understandable.

“There was a bit of wayward shooting from Errigal Ciaran in the first half – a lot of shots from beyond the 45 that weren’t percentage shots, so you’d imagine the Errigal management will want to tighten up on that type of stuff.

“It was entertaining in the closing stages though, and the Edendork lads now have the experience of playing in a senior final, so that bodes well for the replay.”

Darren McCurry came to Edendork’s rescue with an outstanding two-pointer with a matter of seconds remaining. His clutch score was overshadowed, at least temporarily, when it looked like it was disallowed for a breach. Coney gave credit to referee Paul Gallagher for maintaining a cool head and coming to the correct decision.

“Look, it was surreal and made for a mad ending. But first, what I would say is credit to the officials for making the right decision. It’s very easy when the linesman makes that call to stick with it. Fair play to them, they got the call right. There was a fourth man, he was getting treatment.

“Look, Darren has saved Tyrone many a day, Edendork many a day, and I’m sure that’s the man they’d have wanted on the end of the ball. It was a super score to get them another day out.”

Errigal Ciaran had to operate without Darragh Canavan, who sustained a knee injury in the lead up to the game. Coney says that Darragh was a “massive loss” but he also cited the positive impact of the Errigal Ciaran substitutes.

“He was a massive loss, a man of that calibre. Well capable of taking scores and getting in behind. It seems bad enough. To bring on Ruairí Canavan though, and Eoin Kelly kicked a massive two-pointer. It was brave to take that shot on. They used to be called substitutes – now they’re called finishers.

“Both teams will probably feel disappointed in a way. They both had their chances.

“Edendork was probably a bit under par in the first half. A bit of wayward shooting from Errigal Ciaran probably kept Edendork in it. I think it was a game where both teams were very evenly matched, so a draw was fair enough for both teams.”