Easkey All-Ireland hopes ended again in semi-final
Easkey team pictured before their AIB All-Ireland JHC Semi-Final in Ballinasloe. Picture: Easkey GAA
For the second year in a row, Easkey came up short in the All-Ireland junior club championship semi-final as Kilkenny champions St. Lachtain’s proved too strong in the end, running out 11 point winners last Sunday in Ballinalsoe.
St. Lachtain’s intentions were clear from the off as they netted two early goals after three minutes of play, the first coming from Darragh Maher and the second goal coming from Cathal O’Leary after quick thinking from Liam Hickey who set up O’Leary.
The goal from Maher was scored after a minute but Easkey replied with a free from Andrew Kilcullen after Joe McHugh was fouled but just as they got on the scoreboard a second goal was scored a minute later through O’Leary.
Shane Donnelly added another point on four minutes they lead by seven points 2-2 to 0-1. Easkey soon got to grips with the Kilkenny men as they scored three points without reply, with points from Thomas Cawley and a brace from Kilcullen to cut the deficit to just four.
Liam Hickey restored the five point lead for his side with a free after Paddy Killeen had been fouled. Four points in the space of a six minute purple patch had Easkey back to single point with the excellent Rory McHugh among the scores as the score read 2-3 to 0-8.
Easkey would only score once more for the remainder of the half however, as the Kilkenny champions would take control of proceedings once again with Liam Hickey adding a brace of points as Darragh Maher was causing the Sligo team plenty of problems. Before the end of the half goalkeeper Darragh Brennan knocked over an excellent free as they lead at the break 2-7 to 0-9.
The sides traded two scores each inside the first five minutes of the second half but the game was over as contest on 42 minutes when Shane Donnelly finished to the net as a ball from O’Leary was misjudged by Jimmy Gordon and Donnelly sent his team towards Croke Park.
Easkey failed to score for 24 minutes while during this time St. Lachtain’s added three further points, with two these coming from Hickey. Kilcullen got two consolation points in injury time but there was no question about the result as the Kilkenny and Leinster champions just proved too strong for Easkey.
