Darren McCurry will never forget the day he played a match for Tyrone on his home pitch.
It was a lifelong ambition for the forward and when Sunday’s Allianz League game against Kerry was switched to Edendork from Omagh due to the weather, he used all his local knowledge to nail 0-6.
“I was never as grateful as my ambition was always to get playing a match on my homeground,”he said.
“When I got the news this morning the match was coming here I was absolutely delighted.
“I’ve probably hit hundreds of thousands of shots into those goals. My home house is just over the road.
“I’ve covered every blade of grass here. If you can’t play well on your home patch, you can forget it I loved the reception I was getting.”
McCurry converted a stunning sideline among his six points, while fellow clubman Niall Morgan also scored four long-range frees, three in the first half against a gale-force wind.
“The arrangement is that Niall hits the long range frees and I’ll hit the ones closer to goals,” said McCurry.
“You saw Niall in the first half and those ones against the breeze from far out were unbelievable. I couldn’t hit it that far. We’ve a great relationship with frees with the club.
“The fact there were three Edendork players on the team made this more special because I’ve been playing with Niall and Conn (Kilpatrick) since I was 10 or 11.
“It was a day I’ll never forget as a clubman.
“These are the good days, but it’s only two points, only one game, and there’s a massive task coming up in two weeks against Galway. We’ll enjoy the brief break and this win because it was a big two points that we needed.”
McCurry is enjoying a slightly deeper role in the attack and with Cathal McShane now back, after turning his back on a potential pro career in the AFL, Tyrone suddenly look a lot more dangerous again.
“It’s definitely great to have him back as a target man for the attack,” added McCurry.
“Cathal had an unbelievable season last year and he’s really strong, his runs are top class to find him with the ball and you can get the runners off him.
“Playing a bit deeper has definitely helped me.
“The last few years with the club I’ve been playing centre half-forward and I feel like I’m being more involved rather than getting the ball with my back to the goals all the time,” said McCurry.
