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.