Lanigan to the fore as The Harps register first win in a close fought battle

The Harps 0-19 

St Lazarian’s Abbeyleix 0-18 

THE Harps recorded their first victory in Group A of this year's Laois Shopping Centre Intermediate Hurling Championship after producing a remarkable late comeback to edge neighbours Abbeyleix by a single point on Thursday evening.

Having lost their opening game to Borris-Kilcotton, The Harps looked destined for a second successive defeat as they trailed by six points with just 11 minutes remaining. However, they finished with a flourish, scoring the final three points of the contest to claim a dramatic victory.

Michael 'Sticks' Lanigan was the star of the show, finishing with 13 of The Harps' 19 points, including the winning free deep into added time.

Lanigan opened the scoring inside the opening minute, but Abbeyleix, who had beaten Clough/Ballacolla by 12 points just four days earlier, quickly settled with the aid of a strong breeze.

Stephen Thompson proved their chief attacking threat, repeatedly finding the target from frees and open play. After Hugh Whelan, Dara Phelan, Cillian McEvoy, Daniel Comerford and Lanigan all exchanged scores to leave the sides level at 0-4 apiece, Abbeyleix took control.

Thompson inspired a run of scores, while Cathal Noone and Sean O'Donnell also raised white flags as the hosts opened up a six-point advantage. Lanigan ended the run with a free before Thompson added further points, including an excellent effort after fielding his own puck-out.

Comerford and Eoin Clancy replied before the interval, but Abbeyleix still deservedly led 0-12 to 0-7 at the break after dominating much of the opening half.

The opening exchanges of the second half were evenly contested. Lanigan continued to keep The Harps in touch with two frees and another point from play, while Kevin Fitzpatrick and substitute Liam Kavanagh responded for Abbeyleix.

Further points from Declan Iguma, Kavanagh and O'Donnell stretched the home side's lead to 0-17 to 0-11 after 49 minutes and they looked as if they were going to register their second win in four days.

The Harps, however, had other ideas. Lanigan struck three unanswered points to breathe life into the contest before Abbeyleix goalkeeper Kyle Mullen made a superb save to deny Comerford a goal that would have levelled matters.

Comerford quickly recovered to split the posts before another Lanigan point reduced the deficit to the minimum entering the closing stages.

Substitute Daniel Jones briefly restored Abbeyleix's two-point cushion, but there was still time for one final twist. Lanigan converted another free before Comerford levelled the game with his fourth point of the evening.

Deep into added time, substitute Jay Brophy won a free after being fouled, presenting Lanigan with one final opportunity. He split the posts to complete a stunning comeback and hand The Harps a vital first win of the campaign.

The Harps now face Clough/Ballacolla in their final group fixture, while Abbeyleix travel to take on unbeaten Borris-Kilcotton.

SCORERS:

The Harps: Michael Lanigan 0-13 (0-10fs), Daniel Comerford 0-4, Eoin Clancy and Hugh Whelan 0-1 each.

Abbeyleix: Stephen Thompson 0-8 (0-5fs), Sean O’Donnell and Liam Kavanagh 0-2 each, Declan Iguma, Daniel Jones, Dara Phelan, Cillian McEvoy, Kevin Fitzpatrick and Cathal Noone 0-1 each.

THE HARPS: Peter Walsh; Aaron Mahon, Cathal Phelan, Eoin Holland; Conor Walsh, Conor Dunne, Jimmy Whyte; Hugh Whelan, Will Duggan; Lochlan Curran, Pat Walshe, Daniel Comerford; Michael Lanigan, Eoin Clancy, Shane Fitzpatrick.

Subs: Jay Brophy for Curran (41m) ST LAZARIAN’S ABBEYLEIX: Kyle Mullen; Mark Cahill, JJ Murphy, Tom O’Keeffe; Daniel Bergin, David Walsh, Dara Phelan; Michael Parlon, Declan Iguma; Sean O’Donnell, Cillian McEvoy, Stephen Thompson; Cathal Noone, Kevin Fitzpatrick, Darragh Ryan.

Subs: Cathal Doyle for Bergin (35m), Liam Kavanagh for O’Donnell (41m), Daniel Jones for McEvoy (49m).

Referee: Alan Doheny (Castletown)