Walsh happy his side 'stayed in there' against a very good Easkey side

Easkey (Sligo) 0-11 St Catherine’s (Cork) 0-12 

A purple patch, great game management and a bit of class. That is what it took for Denis Walsh’s St Catherine’s to march into an All-Ireland JHC decider after overcoming a dogged Easkey in Duggan Park on Saturday.

The Munster champions trailed by a point heading into the final quarter before two Kyle Wallace scores sandwiched a booming free from goalkeeper Eoin Davis to swing it in their favour. By the time Eoin Condon pushed their total to 0-12, they led by three with five minutes plus injury time remaining.

For better or worse, Easkey kept firing. An overall 38% conversion will haunt them. Both sides hit double-digit wide tallies, yet the Sligo side compounded that with eight shots dropped short. They were still able to claw it back to within one when substitute Adam Rolston clipped a point with the clock in the red.

Rolston’s score came with 30 seconds of the additional three minutes left. An injury delay meant Davis did not strike his puckout until over a minute later. He deliberately struck it out for a sideline deep in Easkey’s half. They played the ball and the final whistle sounded immediately. It is a tactic deployed by various clubs and counties in similar scenarios recently. Did Walsh learn from that?

“I don’t know about that,” he said post-match with a smile. “But we got away with it. He could have played another 30 seconds.

“It was a struggle there at the end. We had that purple patch after half-time, made a few changes and marked the sweeper. We got three or four in a row, but they got back on top.

“I think they are a really good team. Athletic and good hurlers. If anything, they weren’t able to spray the ball around as much as they would normally. I wouldn’t fancy taking them on in the middle of the summer. Even that purple patch we were lucky to get, I didn’t think we would get that. We just stayed in there. That flow was a decisive run.” 

Matthew Mulcahy scored the opening point thanks to a great turnover by Rory Galvin. The lively Andrew Kilcullen then hit back with a sensational sideline, making up for an earlier placed ball miss. The action unfolded in a similar pattern for the rest of the half, Easkey eventually carrying in a one-point lead at the turnaround.

Seán O’Donoghue tagged on a free at the start of the second half to draw St Catherine’s level and pushed them two clear with a lovely point on the spin soon after. Easkey held tough. Walsh would later cite the influence of their number six as something they spoke about at half-time and it was centre-back Rory McHugh who collected a loose ball in midfield and drove it over to push the Sligo champions back in front before they fell victim to a final surge.

“There were some great performances,” Walsh said. “Eoghan O’Riordan at full-back, Andrew Kilcullen is a very good player. Shane Cotter is what, 35 or 36, and he was awesome in midfield all the way through.” 

The stand in Ballinasloe was full and lively throughout with GAA president Larry McCarthy sitting among them. After the final whistle, those who had made the trip from the south flooded the field and rejoiced. By the time Walsh left the field and stood outside a singing dressing room, he knew they would have company as attention turns to Croke Park.

“Castelyons our neighbours are there as well. It’s a double day out for the clubs.” 

Scorers for Easkey: Andrew Kilcullen 0-5 (1 sideline, 3 frees), Finnian Cawley 0-3, Mikey Gordon 0-1, Rory McHugh 0-1, Adam Rolston 0-1.

Scorers for St Catherine’s: Seán O’Donoghue 0-3 (2 frees), Kyle Wallace 0-3, Matthew Mulcahy 0-2, Eoin Condon 0-2, Brian Mulcahy 0-1, Eoin Davis 0-1 free.

Easkey: J Gordon; J Weir, G Connolly, E Rua McGowan; N Kilcullen, R McHugh, D Hanley; R Molloy, F Cawley; F Moylan, M Gordon, T Cawley; J McHugh, A Kilcullen, F Connolly.

Subs: S Molloy for Moylan (54), A Rolston for R Molloy (58).

St Catherine’s: E Davis, F O’Connell, E O’Riordan, L O’Connor; K O’Donoghue, O Fitzgerald, K Neville; K Wallace, S Cotter; W Leamy, R Galvin, S O’Donogue; B Mulcahy, E Condon, M Mulcahy.

Subs: K Barry for Leamy (blood 30-32), Barry for M Mulcahy (46), G O’Brien for Leamy (52), C Hegarty for O’Donoghue (55), E Wallace for O’Connor (57).

Referee: P Owens (Down).

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