Gr-eight result for free-scoring Harps

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STEPHEN Campbell helped himself to a hat-trick on his Boyne Harps debut in United Park last Wednesday night as they stormed into round two of the Leinster Junior Cup.

Opponents Eleson were relegated from the Kildare League’s top flight last spring and weren’t expected to come out on top, but they could scarcely have expecting the bombardment that followed as Pete Brennan’s team stormed into a 5-0 half-time lead.

The second half was a more even contest as Eleson embarked on damage limitation and Harps used all five of their substitutes, but there was never going to be any way back for the away side.

Campbell, who recently finished up for the season with Naomh Mairtin following their run to the Louth Senior Football Championship quarter-finals, formed an instant understanding with strike partner William Woods and they proceeded to cause mayhem in the Eleson defence, supported by Ryan Connor and Robert Cashman.

Woods scored a brace and there was one each for Cashman, Connor and second-half substitute Davie McDonnell.

Connor played a part in three of the goals, apart from the one he scored, while the best of the eight came when a slick team move ended with Woods running across Campbell to take a back-heeled pass and finish with aplomb.

Bernard Osborne and James Traynor also gave Harps forward momentum with their runs from the full-back positions, and all the while Stephen Jordan and Jonathan Deegan played the holding roles in midfield.