First-half goals crucial as The Harps defeat Rathdowney-Errill to advance to Division 1 final

The Harps have sealed their spot in this year’s Laois Shopping Centre ACHL Division 1 final after they fired in four first-half goals to get the better of Rathdowney-Errill in Durrow this evening.

It sets up a final showdown with Borris-Kilcotton which is a replay of the 2023 Laois Senior Championship Relegation final which The Harps came out on top in.

The Harps 4-14

Rathdowney-Errill 0-24

The game roared into life within the opening minute as Rathdowney-Errill’s Paddy McKane pointed a free after a foul by Padraic Dunne. Eoin Bourke made it two points to nil early as he got the game’s first point from play.

The home side’s first score came courtesy of last year’s Laois Minor Player of the Year Eoghan Murphy with a fine score from the half-back line. The first-half was littered with goals and the first one came after four minutes as Conor Brophy tapped the ball into an empty net after Mark Downey’s shot was superbly saved by Ben Campion in the Rathdowney-Errill net.

Rathdowney-Errill responded well to the early goal as they fired over the next four scores on the trot. McKane, Paddy Purcell, James Ryan and Thep Fitzpatrick (free) all raised white flags as their side led 0-6 to 1-1 after 10 minutes. The Harps’ second goal soon followed as Mark Downey was once again denied but this time by the crossbar. However, Michael Monahan was on hand to fire the ball into the net.

Fitzpatrick and Eoghan Doheny traded scores before Rathdowney-Errill nudged themselves in front once again. McKane pointed a free and Purcell got his second of the contest.

Laois stars James Duggan and Cody Comerford got The Harps’ next two points but once again the away side kept themselves in front, Liam O’Connell and James Ryan both raised white flags. Duggan tapped over a second score on the night with Ray Bowe replying for Rathdowney-Errill.

Then came a manic minute for the home side as they rattled the Rathdowney-Errill twice to get their third and fourth goals of the game. Conor Brophy put the ball into Duggan and he turned his man before blasting the ball beyond Peter Walsh. Downey was finally rewarded with a goal as his batted the ball past Walsh.

Fitzpatrick got a point in reply but it would be Michael Lanigan who would get the final two points of the half. Both of them were frees after O’Connell had fouled Duggan on both occasions. The home side leading 4-7 to 0-13 at the break.

The second-half began with both sides trading scores. Lanigan (2) and Eoghan Murphy got the scores for The Harps with Padraig Rafter, Purcell and McKane (free) replying for the away side to still leave six between them.

Lanigan slotted over a free to push it to seven but Rathdowney-Errill came firing back and would soon cut the lead to just four points. McKane raised three white flags from placed balls as Dan Bowe scored off the bench. Lanigan kept the scoreboard ticking for The Harps with a free in between those scores.

Purcell and Fitzpatrick scored either side of a Lanigan free as he once again showed his precision from placed balls to get an eighth point for the home side. With four points between the sides, Rathdowney-Errill came looking for scores but could only manage two points from frees as Dan Bowe and Purcell scored one each.