Scully to the fore as Borris-Kilcotton defeat The Harps in Division 1 opener

Borris-Kilcotton came out on top in a rematch of last year’s Senior Championship relegation playoff with a 12-point win over The Harps to get their Division 1 campaign off to a flyer on Monday afternoon.

The hosts built up a healthy lead early on and despite a slight scare towards the end of the first half when The Harps found the net they never looked in too much danger of not seeing out the win.

BORRIS-KILCOTTON 1-19

THE HARPS 1-10

PJ Scully was on top form for the hosts as he finished with a total of 1-9, with two of his points being exhibition style sideline cuts over the bar, whilst Emmet Jones and Dean Carey each landed three from play.

The Harps had their chances throughout, but wayward shooting and wastefulness in attacks proved to be their downfall, with Borris-Kilcotton being much more clinical at the other end.

Scully opened the scoring in the game with an expertly taken sideline cut that sailed over the bar and Dean Carey followed with a point. Michael Lanigan got The Harps’ opener on four minutes before the hosts hit back with four to no reply. Jones and Carey each struck one from play before Scully slotted a free and followed with another fantastic cut between the posts to put the hosts five ahead on 10 minutes.

A point from Ciaran Comerford stopped the rot for The Harps for a brief moment before Carey and Scully hit back again with a point each. The six-point deficit was suddenly cut to just two when a Comerford free was followed by a goal from Jim O’Connor after excellent work by Comerford to win possession high up the field.

It took just seconds for Borris-Kilcotton to respond as Neil Foyle was fouled for a penalty and Scully stepped up to slot it at the second time of asking as his first attempt was saved by Peter Walsh, but referee Padraig Dunne judged that the stopper left his line too early and it had to be retaken. Scully and Conor Kilbane pointed either side of a Cathal Murphy score as the first half came to a close and the hosts led by six.

A bright start to the second half for The Harps saw them cut the gap slightly as Lanigan and Comerford split the posts along with James Duggan who was available to play despite his involvement with the Laois senior panel.

Stephen Dunphy and Scully responded with excellent scores as Borris-Kilcotton kept their opponents at arms’ length. The Harps were dominating much of the possession but were failing to make it pay as their wayward shooting continued to cost them and the wides tally rose.

Borris-Kilcotton were much more clinical in front of the posts and they saw out the game strongly with five points on the trot through a trio from Scully and two excellent scores from Jones and Philip Tynan.