Harps strike up a winning note to claim U20 crown
The Eastern Harps team who won the Sligo U20 championship. Photo: Eastern Harps Facebook
A strong second-half performance from Eastern Harps ensured they were deserving U20 champions with captain Dylan Walsh their standout performer.
Eastern Harps opened the scoring after just three minutes of play when Carlin Hunt pointed a free for his side but the North Sligo men soon took control of proceedings. They scored three points on the spin through James Donlon, Paul O'Brien and Sligo U20 Ross Chambers to lead by two.
Matt Henry replied with a point from a tough angle to reduce the gap and James Kiernan then made it level for the second time in the match.
Danny Cronin restored the lead for his side on 12 minutes but they wouldn’t score again for 18 minutes as the East Sligo side took command, scoring five points without reply to lead 8-4. Among the scorers were Henry and Kieran as they put themselves in a really strong position.
Despite dominating the second quarter, there was only a point between the sides at the break as three quick-fire points from O’Brien and a brace from Michael Carroll brought the north Sligo side right back into contention.
It took nine minutes for the sides to register a score in the second half and it came from Harps as they went into a two-point lead with 39 minutes played with the score coming from James Kieran.
Drumcliffe were struggling to get hands on the ball and another point from Kieran put three between the sides and things were looking good for the East Sligo side.
The game was put beyond doubt when Harps were awarded a penalty on 51 minutes and the spot kick was well finished by Hunt.
Michael Carroll and Eamon O’Mahony scored for Drumcliffe to reduce the gap to four as the game approached injury time but an insurance score from Dylan Walsh ensured victory, adding the U20 title to Harps County minor success earlier this year.
