AHL 4
Skerries Harps: 2-11 (17)
Ballyboden St Enda’s 0-12 (12)
The Harps senior hurlers began their 2025 league campaign with a strong win at Pairc Uí Mhurchú on Sunday morning (February 23rd).
Trailing at half-time in the wind and the rain, a rally in the second period saw Skerries run out deserved five-point winners.
Like many wind-battered inter-county games throughout the country this past weekend, this was a true match of two halves and it was the Harps who were able to better-manage the rancid conditions.
With a gale at their backs, the hosts started the stronger. Capitalising on early possession and puckout domination, Ballyboden took an early 0-4 to 0-1 lead with three of those scores from play.
While Ballyboden continued to keep the scoreboard ticking, Skerries began to gain a foothold in the second quarter, retaining better possession around the middle and converting three good points from Jack Drumm, Niall Connolly, and Aidan Kehoe.
The critical opening half moment came just before halftime when a long-range Simon Connolly free into the hurricane dropped short and was kept in play by Kehoe who fed it to David Graham to smash home and ensure the Harps went in just two points adrift (0-9 to 1-4).
With the wind now in their favour, an onslaught was to be expected from Skerries in the second half and they had a goal within seconds. Immediately from the restart, Matt Dooley won a great ball from midfield and raced through the home defence only to be denied by a great save from the Ballyboden ‘keeper - but Graham was on hand to tap home the rebound for his second goal of the day.
As Ballyboden struggled with the elements, James Kenny and Niall Connolly took a stranglehold in midfield, dominating the puckouts as Rob Kenny, Matt Dooley, and Sean Graham added points to flesh out the lead.
Five points to the good, Skerries had a degree of breathing room but Ballyboden, to their credit, pushed hard in the closing stages, searching for big scores. However, some excellent scrambling defence from the visitors in the final 10 stymied the Southsiders and saw out the game to seal an opening day win for the Harps.
Skerries scorers; David Graham 2-2 (2f), Sean Graham 0-3, Rob Kenny 0-2, Aidan Kehoe, Matt Dooley, Jack Drumm, Niall Connolly 0-1 each.
Photo Credit: Ballyboden St Enda's
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