Calry/St Joseph’s run in Connacht comes to an end at the hands of Galway’s sleek Sylane
CALRY/ST JOSEPH’S SYLANE
Connacht Junior Hurling Final
0-5 0-21
again went on a scoring spree of six unanswered points to lead by 12 at the break. They could have been more in front, having hit ten wides in the opening half as the rain poured down and the wind based Bekaun before half-time. The second half started with an early Calry/St Joseph’s attempt being cleared off the goal line, Sylane then counter-attacked and Ryan Keane pointed.
Raymond was on target again with a fantastic score as the lead was back to 12. Calry/St Joseph’s were attacking more in the second half, Raymond again on target with a good score on 37 minutes as they were giving Sylane less space.
On 43 minutes, Sylane’s Stephen Reilly was shown a straight red for a challenge on Reidy, 11 points separating the sides at that stage.
Calry/St Joseph’s did find the net, through Conor Griffin, but referee Kevin McGeeney signalled for a free out for a square ball.
Kevin Gilmartin was working hard for Calry/St Joseph’s and he scored a well-taken free on 40 minutes but the advantage was quite a mountain to climb for the Sligo men. Five more points for the Galway side, including the exceptional Oran Martin, saw them comfortably through.
CALRY/ST JOSEPH’S: D Reidy, T Kelly, C Griffin, K Gilmartin (0-1, 1f), F Coyne, L Reidy, D Hand, R Cox, K Raymond (0-4, 2f), E McCarthy, D Collery (C), B Shannon, E Doherty, M Gilmartin, M O’Callaghan.
Subs: Darragh Cox, David Cox.
SYLANE: R Costello, K Moran, A Lardner, B Mitchell, S Burke, C Burke (0-1), A Cosgrove (0-1), R Keane (0-4), K Brady (0-3), S Glynn (0-2), O Martin (0-2), S Reilly (0-3,1f), G O’Neill, P Burke (0-1), A Cullinane (0-3, 2f). Subs: S Martin (0-1), R Monaghan, D Kelly, B O’Neill. THE minor champions of Mayo and Sligo played out an entertaining Connacht semi-final at the Centre of Excellence, Bekan on Friday night.
Both sides ended all square at the interval. In a well-contested but low scoring second half the Mayo champions did just enough to book their place in the Connacht final.
Conditions were far from ideal with a heavy drizzle carried on a stiff breeze making life difficult for the players and the large gathering of spectators who attended at the well appointed Connacht G.A.A. headquarters.
Balla settled early and in their first attack had the ball in the Harps net.
The impressive Cillian Golding found full forward Patrick McLoughlin with a long ball and he transferred to the elusive Aaron Walsh who beat Alan Davey from close range
.Sean Tonra added a point and Aaron Walsh pointed from the right as Balla dominated the early exchanges.
James O’Hara opened the Harps account from a 20m free after a foul on the raiding Bryan Molloy who excelled throughout.
A determined run from corner back Conor Dunleavy resulted in a Jack Harte point for Balla.
Harps replied in splendid fashion. A strong run from team captain Evan Lavin, a lay-off to Ciaran Dorrian whose lob into the Balla danger area was fisted to the net by Luke Kielty.
Harps repeated the act minutes later. The impressive Ciaran Dorrian was again involved.
The Balla defence failed to deal with his delivery to the square and Ciarán Hannon was first to react to divert the ball to the Balla net.
Jack Harte replied with a pointed 20m free but points from Luke Kielty and James O’Hara (13m. free) left the Sligo champions level with their Mayo opposition.
Both sides added an extra point from frees prior to the interval, courtesy of Jack Harte from a 13mfree and Marcus Meehan from 30m free after James O’Hara was fouled.
Then Harps lost Shawn O’Hara,who had been influential, on a black card on the stroke of half time.
The half time score read E.Harps 2-4, Balla 1-7 which was a fair reflection of a well contested open-
SCORERS: Balla :Aaron Walsh 2-1 Jack Harte 0-5 (0-4f.),Sean Tonra,Pat Mc Loughlin and Cillian Golding 0-1 each
E.HARPS :Luke Kielty 1-1,Ciarán Hannon 1-1 James O’Hara 0-3 (f.),Marcus Meehan 0-1 (f.)
BALLA: Niall Fadden;Jack Hall,Ryan Durkan,Conor Dunleavy;Culán Higgins,Thomas Reynolds, Niall Barrett;Cillan Golding,Shea Benson;Shane Foy,Rian O’Connor,Sean Tonra;Aaron Walsh,Pat.Mc Loughlin(c.),Jack Harte. SUBS used:Luke Mc Hale and Conor Holian.
EASTERN HARPS:Alan Davey;Seán O’Connor,Jonathon East,Bryan O’Hanlon;Bryan Molloy,Eoin Dwyer,Marcus Meehan;Evan Lavin(c.)Luke Hogge;Kaelum Byrne,Ciarán Dorrian,Shawn O’Hara;James O’Hara,Luke Kielty,Ciarán Hannon.Subs used:Cian Higgins,Jake Stephenson,Kyle Cosgrove and Tomás Taheny.
REFEREE:PATRICK McTiernan (Roscommon).