O’Connor hat-trick secures U-20 Hurling crown for The Harps against Abbeyleix St Lazarian’s

The Harps have been crowned U-20 Hurling Champions after a titanic battle against Abbeyleix St Lazarian’s in the LOETB Centre of Exellence this evening.

It’s now the third final of the year that Abbeyleix have lost following their defeats in the Senior county final against Camross and the Minor final against tonight’s opponents.

The Harps 4-16

Abbeyleix St Lazarian’s 1-10

The Harps got things underway in the second minute as Mark Downey pointed from play. Cormac Byrne got Abbeyleix’s first score of the contest with a score from a placed ball. The next two scores were traded as Jim O’Connor pointed for The Harps while Cormac Byrne got his second of the contest courtesy of a free.

The eventual winners then hit the front as they rattled in 1-2 without reply. Justin Duggan buried the ball into the Abbeyleix net before he also raised a white flag. Eli Quinn opened his tally with a free with Darragh Kelly offering up an instant reply for The Harps.

Another period of scores without reply came for The Harps as they fired over three points. Cody Comerford pointed from a free and from play with a score from Darragh Kelly putting The Harps seven points up midway through the first-half. Cormac Byrne replied with two more frees to take his tally to four in the game.

Comerford and Quinn (free) traded scores as did Eoghan Murphy (free) and Liam Kavanagh with The Harps ahead by five points at the break.

Cormac Byrne got the second-half underway with a point from a free. A superb block from Conor Dooley stopped a certain goal as Duggan looked to add to his tally. Comerford’s free pushed The Harps five points ahead before Abbeyleix rattled the back of the net. A sideline from Colin Byrne was played to Davin McEvoy who in turn teed up Cormac Byrne, the latter taking his tally to 1-6.

Points from Cody Comerford and Mark Downey put their side ahead by four again with Cormac Byrne reducing it to three with his first point from play. That would be the last score that Abbeyleix would get for some time as The Harps showed their champion credentials and finished strong. 2-4 in the final quarter of the game propelled The Harps to victory.

Eoghan Murphy and Cormac Murphy raised white flags before Duggan turned provider for Jim O’Connor to add to his earlier point with a superb finish. Darragh Kelly and Eoghan Murphy (free) pushed The Harps 10 points ahead. They would get in for their third goal soon after as a shot from Dylan Foyle rebounded to O’Connor to raise his second green flag in as many minutes.

Shaun Fitzpatrick got a late point for Abbyleix before O’Connor completed his hat-trick late on. Duggan blocked down Abbeyleix goalkeeper Lee Cole with the ball falling to O’Connor, who finished with 3-1 in the end.