Heroic Edenderry pull off surprise win that means so much as Tullamore's clean sweep bid ended

DISPLAYING terrific character and fighting for every ball like men possessed, Edenderry pulled off a surprise win as they got the better of Tullamore in a captivating U14 Football Championship final in O'Connor Park on Sunday.

EJ Access Solutions U14 Football Championship final

Edenderry 2-7

Tullamore 2-6

It was a terrific, against the odds win for Edenderry against fancied opponents and it was fully deserved. Tullamore's second goal came deep in injury time and was the penultimate action of a closely fought, low scoring game that was played in great spirit.

Tullamore didn't play that well on the day and have no complaints at losing. In fact had Edenderry lost or been held to a draw, they would have been bitterly disappointed as they missed a nice few chances and were very much the better team on the day.

It was a hard defeat for this very honest group of young Tullamore players and they gave it everything they had on the day.

In the broader scheme of things, it is a win that will mean much more to Edenderry than it would have to Tullamore. Tullamore have been a dominant force in most underage football grades in recent years and while they would loved to have accumulated another title, to win a clean sweep of underage titles, it is not healthy for Offaly football to have one club so dominant.

It is a numbers game for Tullamore while they also have been doing the work at all levels but Edenderry have also worked very hard to turn things around and this win is a reflection of this. It will give Edenderry great encouragement and the emergence of a good supply line in this large, important town, is very welcome.

An interesting aside was that the Tullamore team featured Robbie Dolan, a son of Dervill Dolan who was the Offaly GAA treasurer for five years up to the end of 2024 while Edenderry's Conor Cummins is a son of Colm Cummins, who stepped down as Offaly GAA secretary in 2024 after four years.

It was Cummins who was smiling as Edenderry took the game to their opponents from the throw in. They worked so hard to close down Tullamore, ensuring that they were operating under pressure in every sector. Scores were at a premium in the first half and Edenderry were full value for their 0-4 to 0-3 half time lead.

Tullamore didn't score from play in the first half and it took two spectacular placed balls from Martin Ward to keep them alive. The first was a great two point free in the 26^th minute, their first score and the second was a 29^th minute '45'.

Tullamore levelled it up at 0-5 each after 45 minutes before Rocco Caffrey put Edenderry back in front with a free. It was compelling viewing from here to the final whistle. Jack Dunne got a fantastic 50^th minute goal to give Tullamore the lead for the first time and it looked like they could drive it home from here.

Edenderry, however, stood up like men all over the field and somehow turned it around. Anthony Keogh drew a good save from Cillian Humphrey a minute later but there was no stopping John Delaney when he drove home a terrific goal in the 52^nd minute to restore Edenderry's lead, 1-6 to 1-5.

Jamie Hoey levelled it up with a lovely 56^th minute point but Edenderry rallied again. They got a break when Rocco Caffrey edged them back in front with a 57^th minute free, Tullamore questionably penalised for a pick up by referee John McLoughlin, who had a very good game.

A minute from time, Edenderry scored their decisive second goal. John Delaney made a great break forward from midfield, off loaded to Rocco Caffrey and his shot dipped into the top of the net. Eoghan Stewart punched home a goal nearly two minutes into injury time, getting his fist to a Martin Ward free but the final whistle went from the kickout and Edenderry celebrated a great win.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Aaron Hynes (Edenderry): Several players performed at a high level here. Aaron Hynes is my choice as man of the match. The Edenderry centre half back was immense in the first half and was influential in ensuring a barren time for the Tullamore attack. He cut out a lot of the ball and got forward very well. He continued to defend well in the second half as other players rose to the challenge, particularly John Delaney who had a stormer at midfield.

Kristian Svidersks and Eoghan Stewart were Tullamore's two best players while Jack Dunne showed good opportunism in the second half in an attack that found it hard to escape a tenacious Edenderry defence.

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THE SCORERS

Edenderry: Rocco Caffrey 1-5 (5f), John Delaney 1-0, Anthony Keogh and Oran Denehan 0-1 each.

Tullamore: Jack Dunne 1-1, Eoghan Stewart 1-0, Martin Ward 0-3 (1 x 2pf, 1 '45'), Sam O'Beirne and Jamie Hoey 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

TULLAMORE: Cillian Humphrey; Noah Kennedy, Caiden Hogan, Tom Walsh; Owen Walsh, Danny White, Kristian Svidersks; Eoghan Stewart, Jack McDermott; Robbie Dolan, Martin Ward, Sam O'Beirne; Jack Dunne, Conor Horkan, Jamie Hoey.

EDENDERRY: Daniel Craig; Darragh Kelly, Jack Dempsey, Tadgh Johnston; Aaron Dunne, Aaron Hynes, James McDonnell; John Delaney, Rocco Caffrey; Jack Nolan, Anthony Keogh, Conor Cummins; Oran Denehan, Kyle McNamee Robinson, Charlie Connolly. Subs – Tymon Zurawski for Connolly (44m),

Referee – John McLoughlin.