Laois SHC Final: Historic win for The Harps

Laois SHC Final

**The Harps 2-23 Camross 0-13
**

By Alan Hartnett at Laois Hire O'Moore Park

The Harps are Laois senior hurling champions for the first time ever following a comprehensive victory over Camross.

Ken Hogan's charges were outsiders at the start of the competition and actually lost to Camross in Round One, but won the next seven games to taste top table success for the first time ever.

Cody Comerford, Eoghan Murphy and Podge Delaney were outstanding in defence, Rian Edwards and captain Padraic Dunne were imperious, while all of the forwards won their individual battles with keeper Bobby Murphy also made some important saves in a total team display.

With Podge Delaney and Ciaran Comerford their oldest players at just 27-years-old, this win could herald a new dominant force in Laois hurling.

James Cuddy gave Camross the lead in the second minute but after that, The Harps dominated the majority of the half. They finished it six points clear, but could have been much further ahead.

Ciaran Comerford and Justin Duggan put them ahead and they scored the half's only goal in the 12th minute when Hugh Whelan's blocked shot landed in Ross Deegan's hands and he made no mistake from close range.

Camross kept in it after that with scores from Eoin Gaughan, Cathal Cuddy, Ciaran Collier and Mark Dowling points.

The Harps never relented with points from Rian Edwards, Eoghan Murphy, James Duggan and Eoin Delaney while they almost had another goal in the 21st minute.

Captain Padraic Dunne went on a surging run through the Camross defence and drew a fine save from Tadhg Doran in the Camross goals. The ball came back to James Duggan but Doran got up to deny him.

Camross sprung veteran Zane Keenan from the bench before the break and he scored a free and drew a save from Harps keeper Bobby Murphy from another one.

At the end of it all, The Harps led 1-11 to 0-8 at the interval and a first ever Laois SHC title was within touching distance.

The Harps remained on the front foot when play resumed and things got even better for them in the 42nd minute when their second goal arrived.

It actually started down the other end when Cody Comerford blocked a Tomas Keyes shot on the line, but Keyes was fouled and Keenan went for goal from the resulting 21 metre free but Comerford blocked that.

The Harps broke down the other end where Ross Deegan's shot was blocked, Eoin Delaney flicked the ball on to Justin Duggan and he buried it to leave it 2-15 to 0-10.

That was the score that finished the game as a contest as The Harps kicked for home to deservedly win by 16 points in the end.

Scorers for The Harps: Ciaran Comerford 0-6 (5fs), Justin Duggan 1-3, Eoghan Murphy 0-4 (1f), James Duggan and Eoin Delaney 0-3 each, Ross Deegan 1-0, Hugh Whelan 0-2, Rian Edwards and Padraic Dunne 0-1 each.

Scorers for Camross: Zane Keenan 0-4 (4fs), Eoin Gaughan (1 65) and Ciaran Collier 0-2 each, James Cuddy, Tom Cuddy, Cathal Cuddy, Mark Dowling and Tomas Keyes 0-1 each.

The Harps: Bobby Murphy; Eoghan Doheny, Cody Comerford, Jack Kennedy; Ciaran Flynn, Podge Delaney, Eoghan Murphy; Rian Edwards, Padraic Dunne; Ross Deegan, Ciaran Comerford, Eoin Delaney; Justin Duggan, Hugh Whelan, James Duggan.

Subs: Tiernach Doheny for P Delaney (42 blood, reversed 45), Tiernach Doheny for Edwards (51), Mark Downey for Whelan (52), John Brophy for E Delaney (59), Tony Mahony for Justin Duggan and Mikey Monahan for Deegan (both 60).

Camross: Tadhg Doran; Conor Mortimer, Darragh Duggan, Aaron Carroll; Eoghan Cuddy, Cathal Cuddy, Tom Cuddy; Eoin Gaughan, Liam Delaney; Tomas Keyes, Ciaran Collier, Odhrán Phelan; Darren Drennan, Mark Dowling, James Cuddy.

Subs: Zane Keenan for Phelan (27), Gearoid Burke for Delaney (HT), Oisin Bennett for Drennan (45), Dan Delaney for J Cuddy (52).

Referee: John Lalor (Shanahoe).