Lola Montez Junior A Football Championship Qr.-Final.

          Eastern Harps Progress to Co. Semi-Final.

              Eastern Harps 2-13     Curry 0-9.       Report by Padraic Duffy.

Eastern Harps second team qualified for the Co. Junior A semi-finals with a 2-13 to 0-9 victory over Curry in Kilcoyne Park, Tubbercurry on Sunday.

They led from the early stages with two points from play from Ronan Mulligan and held their advantage on the scoreboard throughout the game. Conor Scanlon opened the Curry account on 7 minutes with a pointed 30m.free.

A goal from Michael Lennon and a point from Marcus Meehan put Harps in control but they were guilty of some poor finishing. A point from a 13m free from Conor Scanlon was followed by points from play from Colin Brennan and Patrick Burke as Curry kept the scoreboard ticking. Points from play from Ml.Lennon, David Sheppard and Jonathon East kept the winners comfortably ahead. Curry reduced the deficit with another Conor Scanlon free and a point from play from Colin Brennan. The winners led by 1-6 to 0-6 at the interval.

Although reduced to 14 players, through the dismissal of Conor Mc Intyre, Curry battled away in true traditional Curry fashion.

Harps went further ahead early in the second half with points from Kielty Meehan and his third in the game from Ronan Mulligan. Conor Scanlon pointed a 45 for Curry but Harps responded with a point from Mike O’Grady after Fiachra Gorman found him with a quick free. At this stage Curry introduced former Co. star Paul Durcan as they lifted the siege. Conor Scanlon pointed a 20m.free for Curry but Ml.Lennon replied for Harps from a 13m. free. The winners were now dominant and Fiachra Gorman was unlucky to see his goalbound effort come off the Curry crossbar, having just minutes earlier pointed from play.

Ml. Lennon and Conor Scanlon exchanged points. Impressive substitute, Fiachra Gorman had the final say, popping over a neat point from play before finishing low to the Curry net to end the contest.

Harps move on to the Co.semi-final where a much stiffer test awaits from Owenmore Gaels  in Bunninadden on Saturday evening.The final scoreline doesn’t  reflect the resilient display of a youthful curry side.

Scorers  : E.Harps : Ml.Lennon 1-3(0-3f.),F.Gorman 1-2,R.Mulligan 0-3,M.Meehan,D.Sheppard,J.East,K.Meehan and M.O’Grady 0-1 each.

Curry : C. Scanlon 0-6 (0-4f. & 0-1(45),C.Brennan 0-2,P.Burke 0-1.

Lineout: E.Harps: K.Phillips; C.Coyle,K.Judge,C.Mc Govern;J.Soden,J.Mc Loughlin,J.East; M.Meehan,N.HenryT.Murray,M.O’Grady,R.Mulligan;M.Lennon,

D.Sheppard,B.Convey .   Subs. used:F.Gorman,K.Meehan,C.Duffy,P.Pilkington,J.Lynch & G.Garvey.

Curry: J.Maher;S.Kennedy,C.Marren,E.O’Donnell;A.Loftus,C.Mc Intyre,G.Henry;B.Mc.Intyre,K.Giblin;P.Burke,C.Scanlon,C.Brennan;F.Cullen,S.Maher,K.Davey.Subs used:D.Walsh,P.Durcan,C.Flannery,D.Wright &G.Durkin.

Referee: B.Carty (Cloonacool).