A general view of Duggan Park, Ballinasloe. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
AIB All-Ireland Club JHC Semi-Final
St Lachtain's 3-15 Easkey 0-13
By Gavin Cawley at Duggan Park
St. Lachtain’s will face Russell Rovers of Cork in this year’s All Ireland Junior final as they proved too strong for Easkey. The Kilkenny champions netted two early goals courtesy of Darragh Maher and Cathal O’Leary.
The goal from Darragh Maher was scored after a minute but Easkey replied with a free from Andrew Kilcullen. Then, a second goal was scored a minute later through O’Leary.
Shane Donnelly added another point on four minutes they lead by 2-2 to 0-1. Easkey soon got to grips with the Kilkenny men as they scored three points without reply from Thomas Cawley and brace from Kilcullen to cut the deficit to just four points.
Liam Hickey restored the five point lead for his side with a free after Paddy Killeen had been fouled. Four points in the space of six minute purple patch had Easkey back to single point with the excellent Rory McHugh among the scorers, 2-3 to 0-8.
Easkey would only score once more for the remainder of the half as the Kilkenny champions replied with Liam Hickey adding a brace of points as Darragh Maher was causing the Sligo team plenty of problems. Before the end of the half goalkeeper Darragh Brennan knocked over an excellent free, guiding them 2-7 to 0-9 ahead at the break.
The sides traded two scores each inside the first five minutes of the second half but the game was over as contest on 42 minutes when Shane Donnelly finished to the net.
Easkey failed to score for 24 minutes while during this time St. Lachtain’s added three further points with two these coming from Hickey.
Kilcullen got two consolation points in injury time, but Lachtain's were worthy winners.
Scorers for St. Lachtain’s: Liam Hickey 0-7 (3fs), Mark Donnelly 1-3, Darragh Maher, Cathal O’Leary 1-1 each, Shane Donnelly, Darren Brennan, Cathal O’Leary 0-1 each
Scorers for Easkey: Andrew Kilcullen 0-9 (7fs), Thomas Cawley 0-2, Rory McHugh, Ronan Molloy 0-1 each.
St. Lachtain’s: Darren Brennan; Shane Dawson, Croimthann Bergin, Simon Rafter; Padraig Donnelly, John Fitzpatrick, Cathal Hickey; Brendan Quinn, Mark Donnelly; Alexander Rafter, Paddy Killeen, Cathal O’Leary; Liam Hickey, Darragh Maher, Shane Donnelly.
Subs: Cian Dawson for Darragh Maher 48, Cathal Power for John Fitzpatrick, Jerry Bergin for Paddy Killeen 55, Alan Rafter for Alexander Rafter 57.
Easkey: Jimmy Gordon; Eoghan Rua McGowan, Gavin Connolly, James Weir; Niall Kilcullen, Rory McHugh, Donall Hanley; Daniel Rolston, Ronan Molloy; Finnian Cawley, Joe McHugh, Mikey Gordon; Thomas Cawley, Andrew Kilcullen, Fionn Connolly.
Subs: Adam Rolston for Fionn Connolly 46, Eanna Moylan for Donall Hanley 48, Patrick Walsh for Eoghan Rua McGowan 53, Cormac Vereker for Thomas Cawley 58, Bernard Feeney for Rory McHugh 60.
Referee: Niall Malone (Clare).
