FLURRY OF
LATE POINTS SEES
HARPS CONQUER BUNNINADDEN
Eastern Harps
1-16 Bunninadden 1-11
Majestic displays from a few senior
players allied to a run of seven points on the trot without reply in the final quarter
greatly assisted Eastern Harps overcome earlier accuracy deficiencies in their
defeat of neighbours Bunninadden in this close but none too exciting encounter
played at Kilcoyne Park, Tubbercurry on Saturday evening last.
Eastern
Harps may be missing highly influential players like Paul McGovern, Paul
Taylor, Tony Taylor and Michael Doddy in this seasons championship while trying
to blood in some youngsters to compensate however it was the scintillating
performance of four seasoned players in particular – Paddy Grady, Ross Donovan,
Thomas Cryan and Brendan Phillips that were the main dynamics of this second
round Group A victory. The abrasive Paddy Grady may have played many good
matches for Harps with his midfield fielding always notable but this surely was
his finest hour as putting the ball high into the midfield area in this match
was like kids throwing biscuits to a hungry monkey such was the determined way
he attacking the ball, caught it cleanly and powered his way menacingly
forward. Little behind Grady in overall effect were defenders Ross Donovan and
Brendan Phillips who held their lines well while being extremely creative going
forward – full forward Thomas Cryan too had a marvellous match winning ball
high and low, distributing it fast and accurately while his free taking was of
the highest order also, finishing the game with seven points. Others to impress
for Harps were goalkeeper Stephen Heraghty, play anywhere defender Kevin Cryan,
captain Kevin Gallagher and forward Niall McGill now beginning to find his 2010
form when he was the senior championships top scorer.
Bunninadden
too showcased a number of wonderful players in this match as they competed so
strongly with Harps for long periods. Indeed it was a remarkable performance by
them given that they had not played a senior championship match for five years.
They went toe to toe with Harps in the first half while winning the third
quarter handsomely and going a point in front 1-10 to 1-09 after 45 minutes but
a lack of experience from a few of their younger players plus a narrower panel
told in the final quarter. In Vincent Frizzell at full forward they had the
games top scorer with 1-06 who gave the Harps defence a torrid time throughout
and vied with Paddy Grady and Thomas Cryan for the games best performer. Centre
half forward Kenneth Kerins had a
brilliant third quarter, his two right wing points from distance bringing gasps
from the sizeable crowd while wing back and county panellist Michael Gormley was
outstanding throughout catching cleanly and swiftly moving forward to attack.
Midfielder Padraig Doohan and half backs Karl Brennan and Sean Leamy can be
satisfied with their contribution also. On reflection the enthusiasm and
notable level of skill Bunninadden brought to this senior championship match
suggests they can still leave their mark on its history given the scenario that
all three group teams are still in the running for honours after their group
games conclude.
Having
missed a couple of good chances Harps opened the scoring on four minutes and
raced into a three points to one lead before the pendulum swung Bunninaddens
way as notching three points on the bounce they went ahead by one point 0-04 to
0-03 after fifteen minutes. An attacking move after seventeen minutes by defender
Kevin Cryan up the right wing saw him take the ball almost to the end line
where his fine accurate cross to the far post found Niall McGill who placed the
ball in the net for Harps only goal. McGill tagged on another long range point
before a high ball into the Harps goalmouth was expertly fielded by Vinnie
Frizzell who was promptly grounded by Ross Donovan. Frizzell cooly finished the
penalty to leave the half time score Harps 1-08
Bunninadden 1-05. An early second half point sent Harps four points clear
before Bunninadden thundered into the game once more scoring five points without
reply to go a point in front with fifteen minutes left and well poised for
victory such was the quality of their current play. However their momentum
suddenly disappeared in the final quarter as the shadows of evening fell and so
Harps went on to notch a match winning seven points on the trot before an
injury time Bunninadden point left them five points adrift at the final
whistle.
TEAMS and
SCORERS ... EASTERN HARPS .. Stephen
Heraghty, Patrick Gallagher, Robert Reid, Ross Donovan, Kevin Cryan, Brendan
Phillips, Peter Rafferty, Paddy Grady, Kevin Gallagher, Shane Regan (0-01) John
Rafferty (0-01) Daniel Flaherty (0-02) Fiachra Gorman (0-02) Thomas Cryan
(0-07) Niall McGill (1-03) Subs Brian
Craig, Declan Hannon.
BUNNINADDEN
... David Flannery, Liam og Gormley, Thomas Perry, Peadar McManus, Karl
Brennan, Sean Leamy, Michael Gormley (0-01) Padraig Doohan, Noel Kerins,
Johnathan Hodgins, Kenneth Kerins (0-02) Kieran Gilligan (0-01) Evan Brennan, Vincent Frizzell (1-06) Joseph
Rogers (0-01) Subs Mark Gormley, Sean O Donnell, Conor Gormley.
Referee ....
Pat Kilcoyne.