KING IMMENSELY PROUD OF TEAM’S DETERMINATION
A long high ball was sent towards the Mary’s goal by Taylor and the goalmouth scramble saw Harps’ James O’Hara swiftly grab possession and slam the ball into the back of the net.
To say the Harps’ support were delirious would be a slight understatement,
They were now a point in front and with four minutes to go, it was looking ominous for a struggling Mary’s, who hadn’t scored since the 45th minute. It was O’Hara who was involved again in the next move, with the minor player earning a free, which was converted by Michael Lennon but the drama wasn’t over yet.
Nathan Rooney found Cawley and he went bounding towards the Harps’ goal, Herrity pulling off a sensational save in the 58th minute.
Then Mary’s had another goal chances saved again by Herrity on 59 minutes.
This time it was Rooney finding Mark McGoldrick but again Herrity was on hand to pull off a brilliant save. Mary’s were running out of times and options and although Breheny converted a free on Coen, it was too late as referee John Gilmartin signalled the end. The green and white brigade of Keash, Gurteen, Ballinafad and surrounding townlands invaded the pitch to congratulate their stars, who fought defiantly right until the end, and now are into the Belfry Senior Final for the first time since 2010.
EASTERN HARPS: S Herrity, G Horan, K Cryan, D Madden, M Clarke (0-2), R Donovan, C Higgins, T Taylor (0-2), K Gallagher, C McGill, T Cryan, D Hannon (0-2), E Lavin, S O’Grady (0-3, 1f), M Doherty, Subs: J O’ Hara (1-0) for Doherty (16), M Lennon (0-1, 1f) for McGill (38),
ST MARY’S: A Sheerin, K Coen, L Nicholson, J Martyn, C Kelly, B McGarry, G O’Kelly-Lynch, N McManus (0-1), P Kilcoyne, D Kilgallon, M Breheny (0-3, 3f), K Cawley (1-0), S Coen (0-1), R Guinan (0-4, 3f), C O’Grady. Subs: C Breheny for Kilgallon (inj 19), N Rooney for Martyn (42), N McDermott for Guinan (51st),M McGoldrick for Kelly (58). REFEREE: J Gilmartin. EASTERN Harps manager Shane King said he was really proud of how his side dug deep to earn a deserved place in the Belfry Senior Championship final for the first time in seven years. He said that although many thought St Mary’s were favourites, Harps knew they had it in them to win. “The lads dug very deep and I’m very proud overall.
“They showed great experience to get over the line. In conceding the goal, which was a slobbery goal and in fairness to Stephen he really kept us in it at the end, he pulled off the great saves and he also saved a point at one stage too which was going over the cross-bar.
“I think one of the things was the experience of our lads. The likes of Tony, Ross, Kevin Cryan and Kevin Gallagher, they have been doing this for years and another thing that was a factor on the day was how our younger players performed.
“The likes of Michael Clarke, Conor Higgins, James O’Hara when he came on, he’s only a minor and they were excellent. So there’s a mix of both experience and youth.
“They showed great character like they’ve done in the past,” he added. Even though they were down by five points at one stage in the second half, Harps never gave up. “Being five points down is nothing and in fairness to the lads they kept plugging away and we got the goal opportunity.” He commended the St Mary’s team and said they will be back. “This is a very experienced St Mary’s side and they’re a young team with experienced county players too.
“They have a good bench and we knew their style of play going into this game. They are never out of sight and will be back again,” Shane said. Back to Harps and the excitement is already building ahead of the county final with either Tourlestrane or Tubbercurry. “It’s great to be back in a county final again. A lot maybe didn’t expect us to be there but as a group we knew we could.
“People have been phoning their congratulations since the win but we know we have a big test with either Tourlestrane or Tubbercurry. “We’ve had great clashes with Tourlestrane at semi-final and quarter-final stages and we played Tubbercurry in the first round. We’re looking at is as another game and we want to win,” he added.