Jay Brophy stars as The Harps overcome Mountrath in IHC semi-final

The Harps booked their place in the Laois Shopping Centre IHC final after a convincing 10-point victory over Mountrath in Rathdowney on Saturday afternoon.

Three second half goals ultimately proved decisive for The Harps, with Jay Brophy getting a hat-trick as they pulled away from their opponents after the break. The result sets up a final meeting with Slieve Bloom in two weeks’ time at Laois Hire O’Moore Park.

The Harps had the benefit of a strong diagonal breeze in the opening half and made good use of it, although they would have been aware that their four-point advantage at the interval left the door open for Mountrath to come back into the game.

The Harps made the early running, with Brophy and Cathal Murphy both finding the target inside the opening two minutes. Mountrath had a chance to respond almost immediately when James Fahy got through on goal, but Peter Walsh stood up to the effort and made an important save.

Tom Kirwan got Mountrath on the scoreboard after eight minutes, but Murphy quickly restored The Harps’ two-point advantage with his second score. Fahy then had another opportunity to find the net, although his effort went wide.

The Harps continued to control proceedings and moved six points clear by the 12th minute. Two points from Michael ‘Sticks’ Lanigan and another from Murphy had them 0-6 to 0-1 ahead, before Caelum O’Brien responded for Mountrath.

The Harps then struck for the opening goal. Walsh sent a puck-out towards the Mountrath 21, where it dropped perfectly for Brophy. The full-forward took advantage of the opportunity and finished to the net to put his side firmly in control. Mountrath hit back six minutes later. Walsh had done well to keep out a Cian Hill effort, but Gearoid Williams was first to the rebound and flicked it into the net.

The Harps maintained their advantage as Pat Walshe and Brophy added points, although Mountrath continued to threaten. Gavin Sydes and Lanigan, from a free, exchanged scores before Kirwan converted two frees in the closing stages of the half.

That left The Harps four points ahead at the break, 1-9 to 1-5, but they were dealt a blow when Lanigan was forced off with a hand injury. Liam Dunphy had come on before half-time and he opened the scoring after the restart.

Sydes then added his second point before The Harps extended their advantage with their second goal. Conor Dunne made ground from centre-back and eventually found Brophy, who in turn picked out Walshe. The Harps forward made no mistake, driving the ball past Scott Hetherington.

Walsh continued to make his presence felt at the other end, producing another fine save to deny Paddy Williams as Mountrath searched for a response.

Instead, The Harps struck again. Brophy found himself in a dangerous position and finished for his second goal of the afternoon, leaving Mountrath facing a sizeable deficit.

Fahy did manage to register a point for Mountrath, but with less than 20 minutes remaining, they needed goals to get back into contention. Murphy converted a free soon afterwards to leave The Harps ahead by double scores, 3-11 to 1-7.

Mountrath refused to go quietly and put together their best spell of the second half, with Sydes and Fahy finding the target. Fahy's score was a goal which reduced the deficit to six points, giving Mountrath renewed hope.

However, Brophy quickly extinguished those hopes by completing his hat-trick. He rounded Hetherington and finished into an empty net to put the result beyond doubt. Murphy added another free before Lochlan Curran stretched The Harps’ lead to 11 points with three minutes remaining.

Josh Dempsey added a late point, but the result was already decided. Dempsey was then shown a red card by referee John Lalor after pulling on Aaron Mahon in the final minute.

The Harps now turn their attention to the IHC final, where they will face Slieve Bloom at Laois Hire O’Moore Park in two weeks.

FINAL SCORE

The Harps 4-13

Mountrath 2-9

SCORERS– The Harps: Jay Brophy 3-2, Cathal Murphy 0-5 (0-2 frees), Pat Walshe 1-1, Michael Lanigan 0-3 (0-2 frees), Liam Dunphy and Lochlan Curran 0-1 each. Mountrath: James Fahy 1-1, Gearoid Williams 1-0, Tom Kirwan (0-2 frees) and Gavin Sydes 0-3 each, Josh Dempsey and Caelum O’Brien 0-1 each.

THE HARPS: Peter Walsh; Aaron Mahon, Cathal Phelan, Eoin Holland; Jimmy Whyte, Conor Dunne, Conor Brophy; Will Duggan, Shane Fitzpatrick; Lochlan Curran, Cathal Murphy, Daniel Comerford; Jay Brophy, Pat Walshe, Michael Lanigan. Subs: Liam Dunphy for Lanigan (29 mins, inj), Eoin Clancy for Walshe (56 mins), Ben Dunphy for Duggan (60 mins), Cormac Dunne for Mahon (61 mins).

MOUNTRATH: Scott Hetherington; Kevin Murphy, Kyle Moore, Ruairi Carroll; Donnacha Carroll, Jake Walsh, Paul Rice; Cian Hill, Glen Tobin; Gavin Sydes, Gearoid Williams, Paddy Williams; Tom Kirwan, James Fahy, Caelum O’Brien. Subs: Josh Dempsey for Kirwan (35 mins), Zac McGuinness for Murphy and Mark Cusack for Fahy (Both 48 mins), Jack Larkin for Walsh (55 mins).

Referee: John Lalor (Shanahoe)