Easkey show the 'Sloe that they're no flash in the pan

AIB Connacht Club JHC Final 

Easkey 1-18 

Ballinasloe 2-12 

At Connacht CoE, Bekan 

Easkey retained their Connacht junior hurling championship crown after a big battle with Ballinasloe on Saturday. The Sligo champions, who reached the All-Ireland junior final last season, proved too strong for their Galway challengers, albeit a goal is all that separated the sides at the full-time whistle.

The Sea Blues, despite their eldest player being 26, showed great maturity on the pitch and frustrated their opponents. Free-taker Andy Kilcullen hit 1-11, the goal coming from a penalty, with Finnian Cawley, back from injury, putting in a huge performance throughout the hour as well, hitting three of his side’s scores.

It was Ballinasloe, however, who got off to the better start with their free-taker Cathal O’Hanlon striking his first of seven points on two minutes. John Coughlan added a huge point from play before Finnian Cawley got Easkey off the mark with a fantastic point on four minutes.

O’Hanlon again converted a free down the other end on eight minutes and while Andrew Kilcullen hit a reply a minute later, scoring his first from a placed ball, O’Hanlon was again on target with a twelfth minute free before Ballinasloe manufactured a goal chance moments later. Evan Hayes delivered a superb pass to Coughlan whose effort skirted to the left hand side and wide.

Kilcullen added another free midway through the half and then a great ball into Joe McHugh saw his goal chance tipped out for a ’65, from which Kilcullen did the necessary to level the match at 0-4 apiece.

Another good ball into the full-forward line saw Andrew Kilcullen bundled to the ground for referee James Judge to award the penalty, which the fouled converted to send Easkey in front for the first time.

Ballinasloe responded though, as O’Hanlon added another free and Aodhan Connaughton added a super score from play, to bring it back to a one point game on 24 minutes.

It was end-to-end stuff, with the midfield pairing of Mikey Gordon and Finnian Cawley winning a lot of possession for Easkey. However, Michillin Fogarty brought the game level with a point from play before Easkey regained the lead, as Gordon set up Cawley for an excellent score after which Easkey won the puckout and again Cawley sent over a brilliant point, his third, to put two points between the teams.

A good move involving Fionn Moylan set up Thomas Cawley for his first of two points, with loud cheers from the Easkey support as half-time approached. The West Sligo men extended their lead with Rory McHugh on target and Kilcullen landing another free after Joe McHugh was fouled. They also had a goal chance saved by the Ballinasloe goalkeeper Shane Reynolds just before the break, but remained five points in front, 1-9 to 0-7.

Ballinasloe needed to score a goal to get themselves back into the game and shortly after the break they did just that when a dangerous delivery was flicked to the net by Evan Hayes. The goal was awarded only after James Judge consulted with his umpires.

The margin was back down to two points but Andrew Kilcullen responded with two more frees for Easkey and by the 42nd minute they were back to a five points lead, as good defensive work from Dónall Hanley and Cawley set up Joe McHugh who was fouled for Kilcullen to point yet again.

Ballinasloe, however, were to breach the Easkey goal a second time in the half, this time Craig Keighery doing well under pressure and kicking the ball into the net It was a cracker of a match for any of the neutrals watching, with the two points margin maintained when another Kilcullen’s free was negated by John Coughlan, who sent over a fantastic point from play after a pass from Fogarty.

Two frees from O’Hanlon saw the game back level for the first time since the first-half, with five minutes to go, as both teams battled hard for the title.

A good ball in from Finnian Cawley to his brother Thomas saw the Ballinasloe goalkeeper do well to avert danger. But two more frees by Kilcullen, including one for an off-the-ball foul on Finnian Cawley, pushed Easkey back out in front, and Joe McHugh and Thomas Cawley followed with fine scores from play.

Jack Dillon pulled one back to leave a goal between them in stoppage time, with O’Hanlon lobbing a late free into the goalmouth area where Easkey stopper Jimmy Gordon did well to keep his goal intact and ensure Easkey would win back-to-back titles.

Scorers – Easkey: Andrew Kilcullen 1-11 (1-0p, 0-10f, 1 ’65); Finnian Cawley 0-3, Thomas Cawley 0-2, Rory McHugh and Joe McHugh 0-1 each.

Ballinasloe: Cathal O’Hanlon 0-7f, Evan Hayes and Craig Keighery 1-0 each, John Coughlan 0-2, Aodhan Connaughton, Jack Dillon and Michillin Fogarty 0-1 each.

Easkey: Jimmy Gordon; Eoghan Rua McGowan, Gavin Connolly, Dónall Hanley; Niall Kilcullen, Rory McHugh, Ronan Molloy; Mikey Gordon, Finnian Cawley; Fionn Moylan, Joe McHugh, Kevin McGee; Thomas Cawley, Andy Kilcullen, Fionn Cawley. Subs: James Weir (for McGowan 54), Adam Rolston (for Moylan 55).

Ballinasloe: Shane Reynolds; Eoin Coleman, Conor Coleman, Alan Caulfield; Craig Potter, Jack Dillon, Alan Reynolds; Michillin Fogarty, Cormac Casey; John Coughlan, Cathal O’Hanlon, Aodhan Connaughton; Evan Hayes, Craig Keighery, Jason Cunningham. Subs: Adam Potter (for Casey 44), Jack Mitchell (for Connaughton 53), David Gavin (for Cunningham 60).

REF: James Judge (Mayo)