Lahardane vs Louisburgh (WP)

 Lahardane 0-18

Louisburgh 1-12

Eoin Horkan 

Boofenaun

There was  history  made on the Sunday afternoon as Lahardane finally ended an eight-year wait for a home victory, with a superb display from Shane Finnerty proving decisive against Louisburgh.

Finnerty finished with an outstanding thirteen , including three two-point frees, as the MacHales  held their nerve in a closely fought contest which swung from end to end throughout.

The home side settled quickest and opened the scoring through Adrian Leonard. Midfielder Eoin Fergus then added a two-pointer before Kyran Jordan followed with another score to give their side an early advantage.

Louisburgh responded strongly despite facing the difficult task of playing up the hill. Oisin Lally got them on the scoreboard before Pearce O’Malley and Dylan Prendergast added further scores to bring the sides level.

As the first half developed, Finnerty began to exert his influence. He landed a free from distance to edge Lahardane back in front, only for Ray Prendergast to answer with an excellent effort from play. D  Prendergast then levelled the contest once again.

The game soon developed into an absorbing duel between the two sides' leading marksmen. Finnerty converted three dead balls in succession to give Lahardane the advantage, but Prendergast continued to keep Louisburgh in touch, raising another orange flag.

The visitors eventually went into the interval with their noses in front when Tommy Morohan opened his account from play.

Louisburgh extended their advantage shortly after the restart when Morohan added another point. The home side , however, were not going to let the game slip away and Finnerty responded with another long-range free to reduce the deficit.

Prendergast then struck from play to put Louisburgh back in front, but the momentum was beginning to turn.

Finnerty produced another crucial double, first splitting the posts from play before adding another dead ball. Leonard then contributed his second point of the afternoon, leaving Lahardane two points clear after twelve minutes of the second half.

Louisburgh refused to buckle and Martin Ball cut the deficit to a single point with a fine score from an angle.

With Lahardane now playing with the advantage of the hill, Finnerty was increasingly influential. He fired over another score inside the final ten minutes to restore a two-point cushion and put his side within touching distance of a memorable victory.

Louisburgh, though, produced what appeared to be the game's defining moment when Ray Prendergast intercepted a Lahardane short pass  and finished to the net, giving the visitors their first goal of the afternoon.

That goal threatened to turn the contest in the east Mayo sides  favour, but Lahardane showed tremendous composure in the closing stages.

Finnerty once again took responsibility, converting two more two-point frees to move his tally to thirteen  and, more importantly, ensure Lahardane would finally celebrate a home championship  victory after eight long seasons.

It was a landmark afternoon for the Windy Gap club, with Finnerty's accuracy from placed balls and from play proving the difference in a contest where little separated the teams for long periods.

Scorers Lahardane:Shane Finnerty 0-13 (3 2ptfs), Eoin Fergus, Adrian Leonard 0-2,Kyran Jordan 0-1.

Louisburgh: Dylan Prendergast 0-6 (2 2 pt fs),Tommy Morohan 0-2,Ray Prendergast 1-1,Oisin Lally,Martin Ball,Pearce O’Malley 0-1 each

Lahardane: Cormac Walsh; Matthew Reily, Eoghan McManamon, Kieran Lynn; Aodan Cronin, Aaron Murphy, Daire Walsh; Eoin Fergus , Kyran Jordan (0-1); Shane Finnerty, Micky Murphy, Darragh Walsh; Jack McHale, Adrian Leonard , James Maughan.
Subs used: Mark Sheerin for McHale ), Ronan  Walsh (for Leonard), Beny Joyce (for Fergus), Ruairí Coyne (for Murphy).

Louisburgh: Matthew Kilcoyne; Alfie Morrison, Ben Cox, Isaac O’Grady; Pearce O’Malley, Mikey Dawson, Basil McLeod; Diarmuid Lally, Ray Prendergast (1-1); Cian O’Malley, Damien O’Malley, Tommy Morohan (0-2), Dylan Prendergast (0-6, 2 two-point frees), Oisin Lally (0-1), Martin Ball (0-1).
Sub used: Ben Moran (for O’Malley).

Referee: Enda Nolan.