Wall strike fires Naomh Eoin to first title

SLIGO town side Naomh Eoin claimed the county senior hurling title for the first time in their history thanks to a narrow defeat over a youthful Easkey in Markievicz Park yesterday.

A goal from Arthur Wall with five minutes remaining proved the difference between the sides in an absorbing but low-scoring encounter.

Man of the match Tony O’Kelly-Lynch hit seven points in a dominant midfield performance, while defenders Niall Feehily and Cathal Jordan excelled as last year’s beaten finalists emerged victorious.

Tony O’Kelly-Lynch got the first and last scores of the opening half from pointed frees as Eoin led by 0-7 to 0-6.

He also scored a brilliant point from play, with Thomas O’Callaghan and Paul Kilcoyne also clipping over good scores.

They were grateful to goalkeeper Kevan Brennan for making a good stop to deny Easkey full-forward

Joe McHugh a goal midway through the half, though McHugh did top-score for his side with four first-half points.

It was a score from his brother Rory McHugh that provided the stand-out moment of the first half though.

The second half saw Naomh Eoin increase their advantage to three, before Easkey battled back and eventually they went a point ahead with just ten minutes remaining.

Kilcoyne’s second score, and a point from midfielder Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch, edged Naomh Eoin back in front.

Wall’s close-range effort bounced into the net off the foot of the post on 55 minutes to give his side an advantage they would not again relinquish.

SCORERS – Naomh Eoin: T O’Kelly-Lynch 0-7 (5f); A Wall 1-0; P Kilcoyne, G O’Kelly-Lynch (1f, 1 pen) 0-2 each; T O’Callaghan 0-1. Easkey: J McHugh 0-8 (6f); A Kilcullen, R McHugh 0-2 each.

NAOMH EOIN – K Brennan; D Hickey, N Feehily, C Jordan; M Munnelly, R Feehily, L Henry; G O’Kelly-Lynch, T O’Kelly-Lynch; T O’Callaghan, P Kilcoyne, D Fidgeon; F O’Kelly-Lynch, A Wall, G Wall. Subs: S Henry for G Wall (18), C Dolan for F O’Kelly-Lynch (46), D Cawley for R Feehily (50), G Wall for O’Callaghan (58).

EASKEY – J Gordon; B Feeney, G Connolly, J Weir; Cormac Hallinan, R McHugh, D Hanley; N Kilcullen, F Cawley; K McGee, M Gordon, I Barrett; A Kilcullen, J McHugh, H Gilroy. Subs:

S Mulligan for Barrett (h-t), Cahan Hallinan for McGee (45), T Rolston for Gilroy (54), E Kilgannon for A Kilcullen (57).

REF – J Judge (Mayo).