St.Patrick’s 1-16 Eastern Harps 2 -10 .Report by Padraic Duffy.

The Co. Junior champions of 2021 who also reached the Connacht Junior final maintained their steady progress with a three points victory over a youthful Eastern Harps team in Cloonacool Community Park on Sunday afternoon.In one of the most exciting games in this year’s competition the greater experience and ability to take scores proved decisive for St. Pat’s as they bid to relive the glory days of the famed Skreen/ Dromard teams of the ‘60’s and early 70’s.

The winners were pushed all the way by a gallant Harps team who fielded several of their Co.under-19 championship winning team.St. Pat’s had the greater physical presence in key areas and made this important factor count at vital stages in a well contested encounter.

Harp’s energetic midfielder Dylan Walsh opened the scoring with a point from a 45.

After St.Pat’s midfielder,James Clarke was fouled Jim Davis equalised from a 20m.free. Following a foul on himself Dylan Walsh again pointed the 40m free.

Padraic Clarke again put the sides level with a point from a 20m.free after a foul on Canice Mulligan. Harps took the lead once more when James Kiernan pointed from play after taking a long delivery from Tony Taylor.

Padraic Clarke pointed his second free and Pierce Kearins claimed a mark before pointing from the 20m.line to put some daylight between the teams.

The well matched teams were soon down to a minimum margin again.Matt Henry took a Ciaran Dorrian pass to point from play , Harps jumped into the lead when a diagonal pass from Ciaran Dorrian was won by Dylan Walsh who rifled the ball to the net.St. Pat’s response was immediate and decisive..

First Padraic Clarke pointed a 20m free after a foul on Pierce Kearins.

Jim Davis added a point from a 13m.free and James Clarke added another after he made himself available for a quick free.Midfielder Cathal Finneran pointed from play.Harps reliable defender Darragh Madden raided forward and was fouled. Dylan Walsh pointed the resultant 13m. free to bring the sides level again.

A point from a 20m.free from Pierce Kearins meant that St.Pat’s went to the dressing rooms with a slender one point advantage on a 0-9 to 1-5 scoreline.

Due to a medical emergency involving a spectator,the restart had to be delayed for 45 minutes.When play eventually resumed St. Pat’s sustained pressure was rewarded with a point from Jim Davis.Padraic Clarke added a point from play to extend his team’s lead to three points.

Dylan Walsh reduced that advantage with a 40m free after a foul on Shawn O’Hara.Again St. Pat’s responded with a Pierce Kearins point from a mark and a pointed 13m free from Padraic Clarke.

The eventual winners found their lead wiped out when Caelan Hunt slammed the ball to the St.Pat’s net after being set up by substitute Sean Bruen,making a return after long term injury.

The Skreen /Dromard team steadied the ship with a point from a mark called by Padraic Clarke who was growing into the game. Harps upped the ante again with a fisted point from Sean Bruen and a point from a 13m.free from Dylan Walsh. The decisive score of the second half followed as Padraic Clarke finished a flowing St. Pat’s move to the back of the Harps net to give his side a lead they would never relinquish.Substitute Martin Clarke added a point from play. Harps responded with a Ciaran Dorrian point after a swift counter attack. Dylan Walsh pointed a 13m. free as the St. Pat’s defence came under mounting pressure. The winners finished strongly however with Canice Mulligan pointing a 45m free. It is noteworthy that the majority of both team’s points came from frees; food for thought for their respective managements going forward.

St. Pat’s now progress to meet West Div. neighbours Easkey in the Co. semi-final in Markievicz Park on Sat. afternoon(throw-in 4.30p.m.)If they can maintain their form of Sunday they can look forward with optimism. Harps too, although their season has now ended, can reflect on steady progress and prospects of further success into the future.

Scorers: St.Pat’s: P.Clarke 1-6(0-4f.,0-1m.)J.Davis 0-3 (0-2f.), P.Kearins 0-3(02m.,0-1f.),C.Mulligan, J.Clarke,C.Finneran & M.Clarke 0-1 each.

E.Harps: D.Walsh 1-6 (0-5f., 0-1(45),C. Hunt 1-0, J.Kiernan,M.Henry,S.Bruen & C.Dorrian 0-1 each.

Team line-out: St. Pat’s: C.Boland;J.Higgins,C.Kearins,E.Clarke;D.Williams,J.Mc.Munn,D.Giblin(capt.),J.Cl

arke,C.Finneran;C.Keaveney,C.Giblin,C.Mulligan;J.Davis,P.Clarke,P.Kearins.Sub. used: M.Clarke.

E.Harps:A.Davey;C.Coyle,B.Molloy(capt.),D.Madden;D.Mitchell,T.Taheny,J,Soden;D.Walsh,T.Taylor;S.O’Hara,R.Mulligan,J.Kiernan;C.Dorrian,K.Cosgrove,M.Henry. Subs. used:C.Hunt & S.Bruen.

Referee : Michael Duffy (Enniscrone /Kilglass).