Camross turn on the style in the second half to see off The Harps' challenge
Eoin Gaughan (Camross) bringing this ball clear in the ACHL Division 2 final Photo: Denis Byrne
A devastating second half display saw Camross claim their first bit of silverware this year with a six point win over The Harps in the ACHL Division 1 final in the LOETB Centre of Excellence on Sunday afternoon.
A huge crowd filled the new stand behind O’Moore Park and there was a brilliant atmosphere with both sets of supporters providing plenty of noise and colour.
The Harps looked like they were on their way to claiming Division 1 glory for the second time in three years after an excellent first half performance which saw them take a six point lead at half time.
Camross are never beaten however and they came out for the second half like a different team and put their opponents to the sword with Mossy Keyes and Gearoid Burke both making big impacts off the bench While it may be “just the league”, these sides will meet again in the first round of the championship in a fortnight’s time and it’s first blood to Camross after totally dominating The Harps in the second thirty minutes.
The Camross half back line of Cathal, Tom and Eoghan Cuddy were impervious in that second half while Ciaran Collier impressed at centre forward, finishing with 1-2.
Ciaran Comerford opened the game a free moments after the throw in, though Tom Cuddy quickly replied with an excellent score from the left wing.
The fast start to the contest continued with points traded by James Duggan and Dan Delaney at opposite ends but once the teams settled it was The Harps who took the initiative.
Comerford landed a brilliant score from play and followed it with a brace of frees before Camross had a good chance at goal but Odhran Phelan's kicked effort just went wide of the target.
The Harps hit back with a second point from James Duggan and Ross Deegan followed with a fine effort from midfield to increase the gap to five at the midway stage of the half.
Zane Keenan replied moments later with a free and he was on target again in the 21st minute for his second point, though The Harps came back with three in succession.
Justin Duggan fired over from an angle and Comerford followed his teammate with two excellent scores from play as the deceptively strong breeze continued to rise.
Camross saw another goal chance go awry when Mark Dowling's effort flashed wide, but Keenan was on hand to point a free soon after to keep the scoreboard ticking for their side.
The Camross free taker then saw a goal chance of his own go begging as The Harps hit two frees in succession via Comerford and a long range strike from Podge Delaney.
Six points was the gap at half time with a scoreline of 0-12 to 0-6 after a point just before half time from Eoghan Cuddy.
The wind continued into the second half and Camross made great use of it after the restart by scoring five points in as many minutes.
Eoin Gaughan hammered over their first from range, while Michael Monahan hit back for The Harps before four in succession for the victors.
Keenan played a big role in scores for Ben Deegan and James Cuddy before splitting the posts himself with a free and Odhran Phelan added the other with a well taken effort.
After suffering an early onslaught from Camross, The Harps regained their composure and hit three of their own through James and Justin Duggan along with a second Monahan point.
The introduction of Mossy Keyes in the second half added another facet to the Camross attack and his presence bore fruit in opening spaces for Keenan and Ciaran Collier to point from to cut the gap back to three.
Said gap was momentarily extended to four thanks to a Comerford free, but it would soon all go violently downhill for The Harps.
Ciaran Collier and Keenan landed good scores from play and Gaughan struck a long range free after James Duggan was yellow carded for a foul.
Another Camross sub in Gearoid Burke assisted a score with his first touch as Keenan struck well from midfield and Camross took the lead for the first time in the 51st minute when Ciaran Collier's attempt from range defied Bobby Murphy and flew low into the corner of the net.
The Camross tails were truly up by now and Cathal Cuddy and Odhran Phelan added to the momentum with two long range strikes over the bar.
Mossy Keyes got his name on the sheet and James Cuddy pointed his second of the game as Camross fished out a few late desperation attacks from The Harps to claim Division 1 glory.
Zane Keenan 0-7 (0-7fs), Ciaran Collier 1-2, Eoin Gaughan (0-1f), James Cuddy and Odhran Phelan 0-2 each, Eoghan Cuddy, Cathal Cuddy, Tom Cuddy, Dan Delaney, Mossy Keyes and Ben Deegan 0-1 each.
Ciaran Comerford 0-9 (0-7fs), James Duggan 0-3, Michael Monahan and Justin Duggan 0-2 each, Podge Delaney (f) and Ross Deegan 0-1 each.
Tadhg Doran; Darragh Duggan, Dwane Palmer, Aaron Carroll; Eoghan Cuddy, Cathal Cuddy, Tom Cuddy; Eoin Gaughan, Odhran Phelan; Zane Keenan, Ciaran Collier, Dan Delaney; Mark Dowling, Ben Deegan, James Cuddy.
Mossy Keyes for Deegan (38m), Gearoid Burke for Delaney (47m), Kevin Byrne for Phelan (60m).
Bobby Murphy; Eoghan Doheny, Conor Dunne, Cody Comerford; Donal Deegan, Podge Delaney, Ciaran Flynn; Tiarnach Doheny, Ross Deegan; Eoin Delaney, Ciaran Comerford, Michael Monahan; Justin Duggan, James Duggan, Mark Downey.
Tony Mahony for Downey (35m), Eoghan Murphy for D Deegan (35m), John Brophy for Monahan (52m), Shane Fitzpatrick for R Deegan (60m), Liam Kirby for Delaney (60m).
JJ Gorman (Clough/Ballacolla)
