Laois SHC: The Harps and Camross register wins
The Harps defeated Clough-Ballacolla in the Laois SHC. Photo by Laois GAA
Laois SHC Semi-Finals
The Harps 4-16 Clough-Ballacolla 2-19
Camross 2-16 Rosenallis 2-11
By Alan Hartnett
The Harps are through to their first Laois Shopping Centre SHC final since 1998 after a sensational injury-time victory over reigning champions Clough-Ballacolla at O’Moore Park.
The winning score arrived in the dying seconds. Cillian Dunne had just drawn Clough-Ballacolla level when The Harps attacked again and Eoghan Murphy sent a high effort towards the posts. The ball dropped into a crowded goalmouth and somehow found its way into the net to spark incredible celebrations - with James Duggan appearing to get the telling touch.
The Harps had been the better side for much of the opening half and took full advantage of the breeze. Eoin Delaney struck twice for goals, while Hugh Whelan, Ciaran Comerford, Justin Duggan, Murphy, Rian Edwards and Padraic Dunne were among the point scorers as they established a 2-11 to 1-8 half-time advantage.
Clough-Ballacolla, chasing a second three-in-a-row after winning five of the previous six championships, responded after the restart. But The Harps landed another huge blow when 18-year-old Delaney raced in along the endline and completed a remarkable hat-trick in his first season of adult hurling.
The champions refused to go away, however. Picky Maher kept the scoreboard moving from placed balls, Cillian Dunne impressed from play and Maher eventually blasted a close-range free to the net to leave just three between the teams in the 53rd minute.
The pressure continued to build. Maher added a ’65 before Ronan Broderick struck an outstanding long-range point to reduce the deficit to one. Dunne then landed his fifth point from play deep into injury time to seemingly send the contest towards extra-time.
But The Harps had one final attack in them. Murphy's attempt at the winning point dropped dangerously around the square and ended up in the Clough-Ballacolla net. There was time for one last puckout before referee John Lalor sounded the final whistle and confirmed a famous Harps victory.
It ends Clough-Ballacolla's extraordinary recent run at the top of Laois hurling and sends Ken Hogan's young Harps side into their first county final in 28 years. They have never lifted the Bob O'Keeffe Cup, but they will now have the opportunity to make history when they face Camross in the Laois SHC final on Sunday, October 18.
Camross are back in the Laois Shopping Centre SHC final after overcoming Rosenallis in the first of Sunday’s semi-finals at O’Moore Park.
Rosenallis had the benefit of a strong breeze in the opening half and briefly moved in front, but they were unable to build the advantage they needed. Fiachra C-Fennell impressed in a sweeper role and also scored from play, while David Dooley contributed four points during the opening 30 minutes.
Camross were not at their best before the break, with Tomas Keyes accounting for five of their six points from frees. However, the crucial score arrived in the 27th minute when Keyes created the opening for Darren Drennan to find the net and send Camross in leading 1-6 to 0-7 at half-time.
The game exploded into life immediately after the restart. Camross went direct from the throw-in and Keyes collected the breaking ball before firing brilliantly into the top corner after just 19 seconds, suddenly putting Rosenallis under serious pressure.
Rosenallis responded impressively as Conor Cosgrove powered through the Camross defence and smashed a goal into the roof of the net just a minute later. But every time Rosenallis threatened to close the gap, Camross seemed to find an answer.
Odhran Phelan and Keyes added points before Ciaran Collier and James Cuddy also got on the scoresheet. Dooley remained Rosenallis's main scoring threat, but further points from Eoin Gaughan, Zane Keenan and Oisin Bennett left Camross five ahead entering the closing 10 minutes.
Phelan, Gaughan and Keenan added further scores as Camross ensured there would be no late comeback. John Lennon did find the net for Rosenallis in injury time, but by then the outcome had already been decided.
