Minor title for Eastern Harps.
CURRY 0-05 EASTERN HARPS 1-15
A floodlit Tourlestrane played host to the Minor A Championship decider on Saturday evening between south Sligo neighbours Curry and Eastern Harps.
Curry, who already claimed the League title earlier in the year were captained by county minor star Red Óg Murphy, while Eastern Harps were also captained by fellow inter-county player Evan Lavin, both lining out in centre-field.
The first half saw some good passages of play from both in what was a physical battle which was very evenly matched in the opening period.
Eastern Harps were a point ahead at the break but possibly should have been more, having scored seven wides in the first half, to Curry’s two.
With 20 seconds on the clock, Eastern Harps pointed, a quick move seeing Kaelum Byrne getting the game’s first score. Another Eastern Harps attack through Shawn O’Hara and Luke Kielty saw the latter’s attempt sail narrowly wide.
Óg Murphy pointed a free after being fouled on 4 minutes. He put Curry into the lead again after a foul on Aidan O’Hora, then teammate Oisín Higgins collected the kick-out and passed to Tommy Henry who scored a fantastic point from play on 11 minutes as Sean Davey’s men led by two. Eastern Harps had hit four wides at this stage, before Shawn O’Hara sought out James O’Hara who sent over a fantastic score on 13 minutes as only one separated them again. It was Óg Murphy again who pointed after being fouled on 18 minutes as they were in front by two. Ciarán Dorrian was impressive for Eastern Harps, he was fouled and O’Hara got his second on 19 minutes.
On 25 minutes, the game was level after Kielty pointed from play, good work out the field by Lavin, as Dorrian put East- ern Harps into the lead on 26 minutes, the score was 0-5 to 0-4 in favour of Eastern Harps at the break. The second half was a very different game, with Eastern Harps completely taking over. Although Óg Murphy brought the sides level with only 20 seconds on the clock, it was to be Curry’s only score in the second half.
Dorrian edged Eastern Harps into the lead on 33 minutes, one they would not surrender.
O’Hara was a thorn throughout for Cur- ry, scoring six points in this half, five frees.
Eastern Harps had a goal chance saved twice on 36 minutes, the initial shot was well saved by Oisín Hannon in the Curry goal, before the rebound fell to Byrne whose shot was saved off the line.
Byrne was also impressive for Eastern Harps, scoring a brilliant point as they led by three on 38 minutes.
O’Hara then scored a free which was added to with a brilliant score from play as the Eastern Harps lead was now at five points on 42 minutes.
Kielty was then on the attack, he attempted to fist the ball over but it dropped short and Eastern Harps’ Hannon found the net. It was Eastern Harps day from here on as frustration led to the dismissal late on of Óg Murphy and Lavin through a black card as the title was heading to Keash.
CURRY: O Hanon, J Weever, M Jennings, L Fleming, C Flannery, O Higgins, D Wright, R Óg Muphy (C) (0-4, , A Reilly, K Feely, T Henry (0-1), E Sweeney, A O’Hora, B McIntyre, O Murphy. Subs: J Maher, S Byrne, B Jennings. EASTERN HARPS: A Davey, S O’Connor, J East, B O’Hanlon, B Molloy (0-1), E Dwyer, M Meehan,, E Lavin (C), L Hogge, S O’Hara, C Dorrian (0-2), K Byrne (0-2), C Hannon (1-0), L Kielty (0-1), J O’Hara (0-8, 6f).
Subs: J Stephenson, E Higgins, K Cosgrove, G Gardiner (0-1), T Taheny. REFEREE: John Loftus.