Winning smiles
Shamrock Gaels defeat Eastern Harps to win the U21 B title
NEIGHBOURS and great traditional rivals Shamrock Gaels and Eastern Harps served up a fitting finale to the playing season for both clubs when they contested a thrilling U21 B championship final in the Fr. Kevin Brehony Memorial Park, Keash on Sunday.
A late scoring burst which yielded 1-2 without reply ensured that the maroon clad Gaels took the silverware after a well contested encounter.
They were deserving winners, having led narrowly from the early stages but could never pull away from an improving Harps team as the game progressed.
The losers looked ring rusty in the opening half, having received two walkovers en route to the final and the sharper Gaels outfit took their scores with greater ease.
A good attendance enjoyed a fine spectacle for the time of year and the pitch was in excellent condition on a Winter’s day more akin to early Summer.
The winners took an early lead through a Darragh Hailstones free and a point from James Carroll.
Shane O’Grady replied with a point from a 40m free before the mercurial Shane Deignan, who was posing problems for the Harps defence all afternoon, exchanged passes with Darragh Hailstones before pointing from play.
Shane O’Grady pointed a 30m free from an acute angle but this was quickly cancelled by a Darragh Hailstones point from play.
Cian Higgins exchanged passes with Shane O’Grady before pointing for Harps and raiding half –back Andy Flynn restored the Gaels advantage with a point from play.
Shane O’Grady pointed from a free after a foul on Tomás Taheny and kicked another point from play.
Gaels then hit two points, a Darragh Hailstones 30m free and a point from play from team captain Michael Kilkenny.
Shane O’Grady brought the first half tally to a close with a converted 30m free to leave the winners 0-8 to 0-6 ahead at the interval.
Harps reduced the deficit on the resumption with another pointed free from Shane O’Grady.
Shane Deignan restored the Gaels two points advantage after he got on the end of a decisive move to point from play. Harps had a defender black carded and Darragh Hailstones pointed the resultant 13m free.
Corner back Karl McKenna made a penetrating run from defence and added another point for Gaels.
Harps then hit a purple patch with points from Shawn O’Hara, Cian Higgins, Bryan Molloy and Shane O’Grady from a free.
The winners’ sole response was a point from play from Shane Deignan.
Gaels began to become more dominant and had points from Shane Willis and Michael Kilkenny.
A pointed 13m free from Shane O’Grady proved to be the final Harps score with six minutes remaining on the clock. The winners hit 1-2 to close out the game Shane Willis then hit his second point from play. The clinching score, a goal finished to the net by Shane Deignan followed when he picked up the rebound from a blocked effort from Daire Kearins.
The decisive score came about from a misdirected Harps sideline kick ,which was the launchpad for the goal.
Shane Deignan completed the scoring with a point from play in a counter attack after sustained Harps pressure.
Overall the greater fluency in attack proved Gaels trump card while Harps were over dependent on the free taking ability of Shane O’Grady.
Best for the winners were Ben Touhy, Karl McKenna, Andy Flynn and Evan Lyons in defence,
Enda O’Connell and Michael Kilkenny at midfield and Darragh Hailstones, James Carroll, Luke Flynn and Shane Deignan in attack.
Harps were well served by James McLoughlin,Jake Stephenson, Bryan Molloy and Jonathon East in defence, Michael Clarke and Evan Lavin at midfield and forwards Shane O’Grady, Cian Higgins, Tomás Taheny and James O’Hara. Scorers: S. Gaels : S. Deignan 1-4,D. Hailstones 0-5(0-4 f.) ,M. Kilkenny, S. Willis 0-2 each, J. Carroll, A. Flynn and K.Mc Kenna 0-1 each.
E. Harps : S. O’Grady 0-8 (0-7f.), C. Higgins 0-2 ,S.O’ Hara, B. Molloy 0-1 each
Teams: S. Gaels: D. Lyons; P. Benson, B. To uhy, K. Mc Kenna; A. Flynn, E. Lyons, A. Kelly; E. O’ Connell, M. K ilk enny (c.), D. Hail stones, J. Carroll, C. McDermott; L Flynn, D. K ear ins, S. Deign an. Subs used: S. Hail stones, S. Willis, D. Willis.
E. Harps : A. Davey; J.Mc Loughlin,C.Coyle,J.Stephenson;B.Molloy,J.East,B.O’Hanlon; M. Clarke, E. Lavin; C. Higgins, S. O Grady, S. O’ Hara, J. O’ Hara, N. Henry, T. Ta heny. Subs used: M. Brennan, C. Han non, M. Me eh an, N. Gardiner Referee: Michael Duffy (Enniscrone/Kilglass)
The trophy was presented to the winners captain Michael Kilkenny by Co. Board Chairman, Joe Taaffe, who paid tribute to both teams and the match officials after the game.