Sligo SHC final

EASKEY 0-22 NAOMH EOIN 1-15

By Jessica Farry at Markievicz Park

Andy Kilcullen top scored with 15 points for Easkey as they won the Sligo Senior Hurling Championship for the fourth year in a row at the expense of Naomh Eoin this afternoon at Makievicz Park.

A sublime second half from the West Sligo side saw them come from five points down to win the title by four points in what has becoming the defining rivalry on the club scene in this fast-developing county.

However it's a rivalry that has definitely favoured Easkey in recent years. This was the fifth consecutive year that these two sides met in the final, with Naomh Eoin last winning the Championship in 2019.

Four of the five O'Kelly Lynch brothers in the Naomh Eoin starting 15 got on the scoresheet in the first half, with 11 of Naomh Eoin's 12 points coming from that household. Andy Kilcullen hit seven points for Easkey in the first half, with five of those coming from placed balls, keeping the West Sligo side within two points of their opponents at half time.

Naomh Eoin, aided by a fresh breeze coming in off the Atlantic Ocean, started well. Tony O'Kelly Lynch hit his first point just five seconds into the game in a real signal of intent. Easkey's hitman Kilcullen responded almost immediately, before Naomh Eoin raced into a four point lead, with Tony adding two further points as his brothers Gerard and Fergal found the target.

Naomh Eoin were dominating in midfield, but Easkey kept plugging away and using what ball they had very well, with Kilcullen adding two further points. The blistering start from Naomh Eoin continued through to the midway point in the first half, as they lead by 0-8 to 0-4 after 12 minutes. Easkey battled on, and brought the deficit to two points courtesy of Kilcullen and Fionn Moylan.

Naomh Eoin were defending well and went three points ahead again when Fergal O'Kelly Lynch's free was well placed.

Joe McHugh brought the deficit back to two points for Easkey, but points from Paul O'Brien and Gerard O'Kelly Lynch put Naomh Eoin in the driving seat as half-time approached, but Andy Kilcullen hit three points from frees to leave the Sea Blues trailing by two at the break.

The sides traded scores early in the second half before what felt like a defining moment in the contest. Robert O'Kelly Lynch put daylight between the sides on 36 minutes, as he beat three Easkey players to hit the back of the net to give Naomh Eoin a five point lead thanks to his composed finish.

Instead however, it turned out to be the spark that ignited Easkey, who struck six of the next seven points and drew level by the 53rd minute.

Paul O'Brien restored Naomh Eoin's one point lead, but Easkey were about to storm the Naomh Eoin defence for a decisive finish. Kilcullen levelled from a free, Joe McHugh put Easkey ahead for the first time and a fantastic catch and turn by Thomas Cawley was followed by a fine point, drawing a huge roar.

Kilcullen rounded off the game with his last two points, both from dead balls, to round off another championship for last year's AIB All-Ireland Junior club finalists.

Scorers for Easkey: Andy Kilcullen 0-15 (0-13 placed balls), Joe McHugh 0-4, Fionn Moylan 0-1, Rory McHugh 0-1, Thomas Cawley 0-1.

Scorers for Naomh Eoin: Tony O'Kelly Lynch 0-7f, Robert O'Kelly Lynch 1-1, Gerard O'Kelly Lynch 0-3 (0-1f), Fergal O'Kelly Lynch 0-2f, Paul O'Brien 0-2.

EASKEY: Adam Rolston, Eoghan Rua McGowan, Gavin Connolly, Bernard Feeney, Donall Hanley, Niall Kilcullen, Rory McHugh, Ronan Molloy, Mikey Gordon, Fionn Moylan, Joe McHugh, Stephen Mulligan, Thomas Cawley, Andrew Kilcullen, Fionn Connolly.

Sub: Kevin McGee for Ronan Molloy (46).

NAOMH EOIN: Stephen Fleming, Niall Campbell, Donal Keaveney, Darragh Cawley, Michael Munnelly, Niall Feehily, Thomas Davis, Tony O'Kelly Lynch, Liam O'Kelly Lynch, Paul O'Brien, Gerard O'Kelly Lynch, Donnchadh O'Brien, Fergal O'Kelly Lynch, Stephen Sheridan, Robert O'Kelly Lynch.

Subs: Cathal Jordan for Thomas Davis (49), Ethan Scully for Darragh Cawley (56)

Referee: Timmy McCarthy.