SECOND   HALF  TACTICAL  PLOY  PAYS   DIVIDENDS   FOR   HARPS

                   EASTERN  HARPS     0-14      CALRY St  JOSEPHS   1- 09

In a lively and entertaining fifth round Furey’s coaches  Division One encounter played at Fr Kevin Brehony Park in Keash on Saturday evening last Eastern Harps finished two point winners over a resilient Calry St Josephs.

Spurred on by the towering presence of goalkeeper Aidan Devaney and workmanlike in their build up play – full forward Conor Griffin rampant also  - Calry St Josephs had slightly the better of the first half going in at the interval one point to the good 0-06 to 0-05. The excellent kick out strategy of the county goalkeeper proved highly effective here while his long range point scoring from frees – he finished with a tally of 0-03 – was remarkable. The sharp alertness of his colleagues, particularly his half backs, to his kick outs deceived the home side on many occasions leading to several waves of attack. In contrast Harps were a bit wasteful in attack in not converting the many chances created by their midfield pairing of man of the match Ross Donovan and Tony Taylor. Donovan in this match showed incredible energy in covering the huge box to box area of the well presented pitch and he did so with commanding effect.

The second half showed an attitude adjustment from Eastern Harps. An increase in shooting accuracy was noticeable, however the main dynamic in changing the course of the game was the much improved concentration from their forwards in shadowing their men for Devaney’s kick outs. Nonetheless a few early chances for scores for the visitors sailed wide but by and large this tactical change now left the home side well in command scoring seven points without reply by the twentieth minute to leave the score 0-12 to 0-06. A purple patch in this period from Thomas Cryan saw him notch three of those points while in the same twenty minute period a move by Calry’s Conor Griffin to midfield from full forward did not seem to have the desired effect. The visitors did have the better of the final few minutes outscoring Harps by 0-03 to 0-02 while a last gasp goal from a passing movement in time added on left a margin of just two points between the sides at the long whistle, in a match in which a much improved Harps from last week proved to be worthy winners.

These two sides will meet again in the first round of the senior championship later this year. Conor Griffin, Aidan Devaney and Darragh Cummins will again spearhead that challenge while Harps will look to Ross Donovan, Tony Taylor, Paul McGovern and perhaps Danny O Grady – now inching his way back to the required game speed – following an eight year break down under, to spearhead theirs.

Referee  ... P  Golden.