The Harps end 14-year wait for SHC semi-final after Borris-Kilcotton battle

The Harps have ended a 14-year wait to reach a Laois Shopping Centre SHC semi-final after they just about got past Borris-Kilcotton in Sunday’s quarter-final.

Ken Hogan’s side probably should have been out of sight by half-time, but a number of missed chances left Borris-Kilcotton in the game and they took full advantage after the restart. The Harps led by six at the break, but Borris-Kilcotton had cut that advantage to a single point with 20 minutes remaining.

The Harps showed enough composure to get over the line, with Hugh Whelan’s injury-time goal finally putting some daylight between the sides and securing a four-point victory.

James Duggan wasted little time in getting the game’s opening score as he pointed inside the first minute. Aaron Dunphy was Borris-Kilcotton’s main scoring threat throughout and he quickly made his mark, hitting two points to put his side in front.

The Harps responded with three frees, two from Ciaran Comerford and one from Eoghan Murphy, before Dunphy raised his and Borris-Kilcotton’s third white flag.

The Harps then hit three points in a row, with Comerford, Murphy and Eoin Delaney all finding the target. Delaney had a great chance to add a goal moments later, but fired wide of Eoin Fleming’s goal.

Borris-Kilcotton threatened at the other end when Dean Carey and Kyle Abraham combined, with Bobby Murphy forced into a save from Abraham’s effort.

Dunphy and Comerford traded frees before Stephen Dunphy pointed to cut the gap to three. The Harps have been clinical in front of goal during this year’s championship and James Duggan almost added another goal to his tally, but Fleming denied him. Delaney collected the rebound and pointed.

Borris-Kilcotton scored three more times before half-time as Joe Campion hit two points and Dunphy added another. The Harps responded with points from James and Justin Duggan before Comerford produced the game’s first goal.

The Harps midfielder sent a 21-yard free straight into the top corner, with only Fleming and one defender standing on the line. That left them six points ahead at the break, 1-11 to 0-8.

Dunphy cut the gap to four with two frees early in the second half before James Duggan restored the five-point advantage. However, Borris-Kilcotton soon had the game back in the balance.

Dunphy added three points, two from frees, while Campion also found the target. Points from Ross Deegan and Delaney left three between the sides with 15 minutes remaining. Abraham was finding Murphy difficult to beat in the Harps goal and the goalkeeper produced another important save when Dunphy’s sideline ball found the Borris-Kilcotton forward.

Dunphy got his 11th point of the game from his ninth free to leave just two between them, but The Harps responded with their best spell of the half. Comerford hit two points before James Duggan added another with a one-handed strike.

Niall Coss got his only score of the game to put four between them, but with three minutes of normal time remaining, Borris-Kilcotton needed a goal.

It was The Harps who found the net instead as Hugh Whelan fired past Fleming after a scramble in the square. Abraham finally got the better of Murphy late on when he found the net, but it was too little, too late as The Harps held on for a four-point win. John Brophy was sent off near the end after receiving two yellow cards.

They now face reigning county champions and three-in-a-row chasing Clough/Ballacolla in the semi-final in two weeks’ time. Rosenallis will meet Camross in the other last-four tie.

FINAL SCORE

The Harps 2-17

Borris-Kilcotton 1-16

SCORERS - The Harps: Ciaran Comerford 1-6 (1-5 frees), James Duggan 0-4, Eoin Delaney 0-3, Eoghan Murphy 0-2 (0-1 free), Ross Deegan and Justin Duggan 0-1 each. Borris-Kilcotton: Aaron Dunphy 0-11 (0-9 frees), Joe Campion 0-3, Kyle Abraham 1-0, Stephen Dunphy and Niall Coss 0-1 each

BORRIS/KILCOTTON: Eoin Fleming; Connor Kilbane, Enda Parlon, Steven Finan; Evan Quinlan, Philip Tynan, Niall Coss; Eoin Fitzpatrick, Colm Stapleton; Jer Quinlan, Kyle Abraham, Joe Campion; Stephen Dunphy, Dean Carey, Aaron Dunphy. Subs: Eoghain Coss for Carey (37 mins), Cillian O’Riordan for Parlon (Blood 39-44 mins), Neil Foyle for S Dunphy (57 mins), Cillian O’Riordan for Kilbane (62 mins)

​THE HARPS: Bobby Murphy; Eoghan Doheny, Cody Comerford, Jack Kennedy; Ciaran Flynn, Podge Delaney, Eoghan Murphy; Rian Edwards, Padraic Dunne; Ross Deegan, Ciaran Comerford, Eoin Delaney; Justin Duggan, Hugh Whelan, James Duggan. Subs: Tony Mahony for Edwards (42 mins), John Brophy for Justin Duggan (48 mins), Mark Downey for E Delaney (55 mins)

Referee: Alan Doheny (Castletown)