Sligo SHC Final: Naomh Eoin dethrone Easkey

Sligo SHC Final

Naomh Eoin 0-17 Easkey 1-13

By Gavin Cawley at Markievicz Park

Naomh Eoin pulled off a stunning upset to claim their second county title, dethroning Easkey in a thrilling Senior Hurling Championship Final. It marks their first county crown since 2019.

The Sligo town side flew out of the traps, with captain Paul O’Leary splitting the posts after just 20 seconds. Easkey hit back immediately when Patrick Walsh rattled the net, but they struggled to find their rhythm in the opening quarter. Naomh Eoin capitalised on their slow start, as a brace of Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch frees leveled the game at 1-1 to 0-4 after eight minutes.

From there, the Townies took command. A three-point scoring blitz from O’Kelly-Lynch pushed Naomh Eoin ahead. While newly crowned Nicky Rackard Cup Player of the Year Andrew Kilcullen kept Easkey in touching distance, further scores from O’Kelly-Lynch and O’Leary ensured Naomh Eoin held a 0-13 to 1-6 advantage at the interval.

Easkey’s grip on the title seemed to be slipping when they trailed 0-16 to 1-8 with just 12 minutes remaining. However, the champions launched a fierce late fightback. Free-taker Kilcullen and Finnian Cawley spearheaded the resurgence, sensationally drawing Easkey level in the 62nd minute to set up a grandstand finish.

With extra time looming, the game was decided in the 64th minute. Ice-cool Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch stepped up to smash over the winning free, sealing a famous win for Naomh Eoin.

Scorers for Naomh Eoin: Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch 0-10 (9fs,165), Paul O’Leary 0-4, Donal Fidgeon 0-2, Tony O’Kelly-Lynch 0-1.

Scorers for Easkey: Andrew Kilcullen 0-8 (7fs), Patrick Walsh 1-1, Finnian Cawley 0-1, Cormac Vereker 0-1, Thomas Cawley 0-1, Fionn Connolly 0-1.

Naomh Eoin: Matt Davey; Thomas Davis, Niall Feehily, Donal Keaveny; Darragh Cawley, Paul O’Brien, Donal Fidgeon; Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch, Liam O’Kelly-Lynch; Paul O’Leary, Tony O’Kelly-Lynch, Donnchadh O’Brien; Rory O’Conallain, Fergal O’Kelly-Lynch, Thomas O’Brien

Subs: Arthur Wall for Thomas O’Brien (56).

Easkey: Adam Rolston; Shane Molloy, James Weir, Gavin Connolly; Bernard Feeney, Finnian Cawley, Donall Hanley; Ronan Molloy, Mikey Gordon; Cormac Vereker, Joe McHugh, Thomas Cawley; Patrick Walsh, Andrew Kilcullen, Fionn Connolly.

Subs: Niall Kilcullen for Bernard Feeney (39); Micheal McDonagh for Cormac Vereker (42); Gavin Connolly for Dylan Walsh (42); Eanna Moylan for Patrick Walsh (55).

Referee: Michael Larkin.