Armagh Senior Championship. Harps advance to Semi's

[BerfArmagh]

Great win for the Harps yesterday, considering both Veron & Holmes were missing. Next up is Cross, which is daunting considering they beat clanns by 20 points 

Harps v Mullabawn

Harps advanced to the County semi-final for the first time since 2004, when they overcame South Armagh side Mullabawn at Cullyhanna yesterday. The match was played on a heavy pitch in cold and blustery conditions and turned into a battle of attrition as the final whistle approached. Thankfully it was the Harps, playing with great pride and determination, who pulled out all the stops to get home by two points. 

For Harps supporters at the match, the day did not start well, with confirmation that the rumours of Charlie Vernon's injury were true and that he would play no part in the match. Gareth Richards came in to partner Philly McKinney at midfield. 

Harps started off playing down the hill with a considerable breeze in their favour and it was clear that we were going to need a significant lead at half time if we were to take the game. However it was Mullabawn who dominated early on. Harps had an early wide before Mullabawn had two wides of their own, both from free kicks. We eventually managed the opening score with a free from Kevin Kelly but Mullabawn continued to press and had three further bad wides, and were denied a goal when Willie McSorley got a vital touch to a close range effort, at the expense of a '50'. Harps eventually began to come into the match but had two bad wides before Gerard McDonagh scored a close range point after excellent work by Nippy. Kevin Kelly kicked Harps' third point from a bad kick out and when Kevin pointed a huge free kick from sixty yards, Harps looked to be in the driving seat. Harps continued to press. Joe Quigley found space inside the Mullabawn defence, and beat several defenders on a brilliant run, before being denied a goal by an excellent point blank save from the opposition keeper. Not only was this an important save, but Mullabawn were able to counterattack and score their opening point at the other end. They then followed this up with a terrible miss from a close in free and were made to pay when Kevin Kelly added a point for Harps from a free. As time run out Harps had two further wides before Kevin Kelly pointed another free to give Harps a five point lead, but Mullabawn managed the last score of the half with a point from a close in free that had been moved up for needless back chat to the referee.

Half time, Harps 0-06, Mullabawn 0-02.

There was concern amongst the Harps support as to whether a four point advantage would be enough to win the game, and these concerns were reinforced when Mullabawn opened the second half scoring with an excellent point from their number ten, that brought a huge roar of anticipation from their supporters. However to their credit, the lads dug deep, and after Joe Quigley had a wide from play, he quickly added a point from a thirty yard free. Mullabawn then replied with a wide from a scoreable free as scores proved to be at a premium. Ebby Toal then came into our attack for Sean Morrison who had received a yellow card for a late tackle. Harps though appeared to have weathered the storm when suddenly disaster struck. Our defence was caught sleeping as Mullabawn to a quick line ball to their number thirty. He raced in on the angle towards goal and crashed a brilliant left footed shot across Willie McSorley and into the far corner, to suddenly leave a point between the sides. Harps were stunned by this set back and when Mullabawn kicked the equaliser from play and took the lead for the first time with a point from a free, the game looked up for the Harps. However to their eternal credit, they rallied and midfielder Philly McKinney raced through the Mullabawn defence to kick a brilliant equalising point. Declan Coulter came in for Gerard McDonagh in the attack, although the odds were still stacked against the Harps. Mullabawn regained the lead with another point from a free. Harps though replied with a free from Kevin Kelly after Kevin himself had brilliantly won possession despite being outnumbered. The game was now on a knife edge and was end to end stuff. Both side swapped wides before the Mullabawn corner forward had a shot from out on the line that headed for the posts. As the crowd held their breath, both umpires consulted and then waved the effort wide. Harps again went into the attack and when Joe Quigley was fouled, he dusted himself off and pointed the free to give the Harps the lead with time running out. Play was still end to end and when Harps made one more attack up the right wing, Kevin Kelly was again fouled and Kevin himself stepped up to give Harps a two point cushion. Tempers did boil over a bit towards the end, and a player from each side was sent off. However Harps kept their eyes firmly on the task at hand and held out for an excellent victory. 

Final score, Harps 0-11, Mullabawn 1-06.

Any Championship win is a good win, but the victory yesterday was particularly pleasing when one considers the players that we were missing. The loss of Collie Holmes, along with other long term casualties, was bad enough, but the injury suffered by Charlie Vernon at training on Friday night was a body blow. Not only did Harps respond magnificently to that, but events on the pitch served to put Harps on more than one occasion, at the brink of a Championship exit and yet again players and management responded to the challenge. 

This was an excellent overall team performance and every single player played his part in contributing to the victory. However the efforts of Martin Gill, Kevin Kelly, Martin McCoy, Philly McKinney, Neil McArdle and man of the match Nippy Swift are particularly deserving of mention. The Harps lined out as follows. Willie McSorley, Chuckie Morris, Martin Gill, Mark McConville, Jungle McKee, Martin McCoy, Neil McArdle, Philly McKinney 0-1, Gareth Richards, Minnie Holmes, Nippy Swift, Gerard McDonagh 0-1 (Declan Coulter), Kevin Kelly 0-7 (0-6 frees), Sean Morrison (Ebby Toal) and Joe Quigley 0-2 (0-2 frees).   

[full back]

WTF
Are you the harps version of winsam?
Harps get to a semi final & you want the whole country to know

[Over the Bar]

No-one outside of Armagh really gives a hoot and I believe that a lot of ppl inside the county aren't all that bothered either since Cross get a virtual by to the UCC each year.

MODS:  Please put this thread where it belongs!

[BerfArmagh]

If it bothers ye, don't read it.

[Our Nail Loney]

Not only is there an armagh club thread, there is a harps thread, get this shit off the main page