Silver Hill Foods Development Hurling League Final

Monaghan Harps 1-11 Truagh 1-8                           23/5/13

Monaghan Harps claimed the second Development Hurling League title with a hard-earned win over Truagh in the final, which was played in excellent conditions at Smithborough last Thursday evening. Despite leading from start to finish, the Harps were pushed all the way by Truagh in a nip-and-tuck game, but they held out. Maurice McKenna, Jack Lee, Alan Ryan and Gerard Gilsenan were central to the Harps win, while Conor McKenna, Conor Boyle and Niall Coyle led the Truagh challenge.

The Harps got off to a great start, as Alan Ryan converted a free, before sending in a high ball which Gerard Gilsenan diverted into the net. Truagh got a couple of points back through Conor McKenna and Conor Boyle, but Ross Corbett, Maurice McKenna and Ryan opened up a five-point gap. Truagh hit back with a goal when a long-range shot from Conor McKenna evaded everyone and ended up in the net, but scores from Brendan McQuaid and Dónal Hahessy kept the Harps in control. Truagh rallied in the last ten minutes of the half, with their comeback kick-started by a fine point from Niall Coyle, who added another point after Boyle had converted his second free. Maurice McKenna converted a free at the other end, but Damian McCarron hit back from play to make it 1-7 to 1-6 and he went close to giving Truagh a half-time lead when he sent a goal-attempt wide.

Scores were scarce after the restart, as the teams could only manage a combined total of three points in the third quarter. McKenna got both of the Harps scores from frees, following fouls on himself and Shane Smyth, either side of a Boyle free for Truagh. Another Boyle free closed the gap to a point inside the final quarter, but further frees by Ryan and McKenna gave the Harps the breathing space they needed to see the game out. Their joint captains Aodhán Óg McAnespie and Alan Ryan were presented with the cup after the game by county board hurling officer Malachy Trainor.

Monaghan Harps: J Greenan; É Finlay, G Baxter, A Lee; K O’Mahony, A Óg McAnespie (Joint Capt.), J Lee; A Ryan (Joint-Capt., 0-3, 2f), S Smyth; B McQuaid (0-1), D Hahessy (0-1), A Connell; M McKenna (0-5, 4f), G Gilsenan (1-0), R Corbett (0-1).

Subs: Liam Hahessy for McAnespie (inj., 29 mins), Conor Curley for McQuaid (39).

Truagh: P McKenna; N Flood, P McKenna, N McCarron; C McGinnity, A Coyle, K McKenna; C McKenna (1-1), R McKenna; C Boyle (0-4, 3f), N Coyle (0-2), C McAnespie; D McCarron (0-1), F McKenna, G Treanor.

Sub: D McGee for G Treanor.

Referee: H Leonard (Castleblayney HC).