Kilcullen dazzles as Easkey remain kings of Sligo hurling
Andrew Kilcullen was the star of the show for Easkey as he struck 2-14 to help his side win a sixth Sligo hurling title in a row. Picture: INPHO/Bryan Keane
Andrew Kilcullen was the star of the show as he hit 2-14 to ensure Easkey won the Sligo senior hurling title once again.
Easkey started the game brightly as they raced into a three-point lead after six minutes of play, with all three coming from Kilcullen.
Naomh Eoin did respond, and they soon settled with Robert O’Kelly Lynch scoring a 65 and a free for his side to reduce the deficit to a single point. The Sligo town-based side then took the lead when Matt Davey netted the opening goal of the match after a fine team move.
The sides would be level for the first time on 13 minutes when Kilcullen scored a brace, one from play and one from a free. Robert O’Kelly-Lynch responded with frees of his own to put the Sligo town side back in front but efforts from the hardworking Niall Kilcullen and his brother Andrew, a free, had the sides level for the second time.
The sides would be level on another three occasions from here until the break as Robert O’Kelly-Lynch and Kilcullen were both in top form in front of the posts to leave it 1-9 to 0-12 at half-time.
After the restart, Naomh Eoin would retake the lead thanks to another free from Robert O’Kelly-Lynch, but Easkey would level matters for the fifth time thanks to a point from Cormac Vereker, with Niall Kilcullen was involved the move.
Paul O’Brien would restore the lead for Naomh Eoin after 33 minutes as he pointed expertly for a free from the wing back but Andrew Kilcullen showed his quality again to make it all square for the sixth time on 34 minutes but that would be the last time the sides would be level. A point from Eanna Moylan ensured the five-in-a-row champions retook the lead, and singles from Thomas Cawley and Kilcullen saw Easkey extend their lead to three.
A free from Robert O’Kelly-Lynch kept his side in touch with 41 minutes played to cut the lead back to two but Naomh Eoin would only manage only more two points from here.
Easkey took the pressure off themselves when they scored four points without reply to lead by six points with five minutes to play. Robert O’Kelly-Lynch did reduce the gap back to five, but Kilcullen would find the back of the net twice late on to round off a fine personal tally for the Easkey and Sligo marksman and seal a sixth successive Sligo senior hurling championship.
Easkey will now look to win a fourth Connacht junior hurling title on the bounce. They begin their provincial journey on the weekend of November 15/16 when they take on the Leitrim champions in the semi-final.
