Too Eas-key for Sligo and Connacht champions

AIB Connacht club junior hurling semi-final 

Easkey 2-22 

Carrick 2-6 

Gavin Cawley at Markievicz Park 

Fresh off the back of winning their fifth Sligo senior hurling title in row, Easkey ensured they will fight to hold onto the Connacht title also as they proved too strong for Carrick Hurling Club.

Carrick opened the scoring through a free from Chris Flanagan but Easkey would control the remainder of the half as they would lead at the break 2-11 to 0-2. The first arrived from Andrew Kilcullen on 11 minutes after Fionn Connolly played the ball into full-forward who fired the ball to the net.

The second goal came on 21 minutes as Adam Rolston finished to the net, Connolly supplying the assist once again for his side.

Easkey conceded two goals in the second half which will be concern going into the Connacht final as James McNabola and Conor Beirne both registered goals for Carrick but the home side were able to weather the storm from Carrick as they scored six points without reply in the final ten minutes through Kilcullen, Joe McHugh, Mickey Gordon and Cormac Vereker.

Scorers - Easkey: Andrew Kilcullen 1-10 (0-55f, 0-1 65’), Adam Rolston 1-1, Joe McHugh 0-4, Fionn Connolly 0-2, Mickey Gordon, Cormac Vereker, Patrick Walsh, Donal Hanley, Daniel Rolston and 0-1 each.

Carrick: James McNabola and Conor Beirne 1-1 each, Chris Flanagan 0-3f, Conor McLoughlin 0-1.

Easkey: Jimmy Gordon; James Weir, Gavin Connolly, Ian Barrett; Eanna Moylan, Rory McHugh, Ronan Molloy; Mikey Gordon, Daniel Rolston; Patrick Walsh, Joe McHugh, Donal Hanley; Adam Rolston, Andrew Kilcullen, Fionn Connolly. Subs: Cormac Vereker (for Moylan 45), Bernard Feeney and Thomas Cawley (for Molloy and Walsh 54), James Conway (for Connolly 60).

Carrick: Lurcan Donnellan; Dhani Keane, Paul Lenehan, Tom McNabola; Niall Crowe, Conor Beirne, Shane Crowe; Adam Gavigan, Conor Hackett; Sean Keane, Chris Flanagan, Sean O’Riordan; James McNabola, Stephen Goldrick, Connor McLoughlin. Subs: Paul Early (for T McNabola 22), Conor McLoughlin and Gavin O’Brien (for S Keane and N Crowe ht), Dean Earley for Sean O’Riordan 55), Paul Earley (for J McNabola 58).

REF: Aaron Clogher (Roscommon).