In the first game of the 2021 season Tir Conaill Harps Junior team came out on top in their encounter with Sand MacSwineys. With a 3 point winning margin it certainly won’t go down as a classic with the Harps looking a little rusty at times. However one thing that was not lacking from the boys in green was heart and passion.
The game started brightly with Harps taking the lead, but it wasn’t long before Sand MacSwineys managed to kick over their first point of the match and soon where very much in the game. On several occasions throughout the first half Harps edged in front only for Sands to score quickly and bring the score back level. However Tir Conaill did manage to finish the first half 1 point in front with a score of 1-04 to 0-06.
Sands MacSwineys kicked over the first point of the second half to once again bring the scores level. It was clear for anyone to see at this point that Harps where in the grips of hard fought battle and they would seriously have to up the ante if they were to come away from this fixture unscathed by a rejuvenated Sands MacSwineys side, and that’s just exactly what they did. Danny McGowen jumped highest to get his hands to a crossed ball first and fist it behind him and over the Sands goalkeeper to score the second goal of the game.
As had been indicative throughout the game Sands pushed forward and piled on the pressure and managed to get 2 goals of their own, but with the game now level Tir Conaill Harps gave one final push to finish strongly and managed to find that all important third goal. In what would end up being the final play of the game Sands pushed forward and found themselves in font of goal. With the Sands player one on one with the Harps keeper, Dara Cahill managed to pull off a magnificent save. With the resulting 45 Sands pulled a point back but the final score ended Tir Conaill Harps 3-07 Sands MacSwineys 2-07.
A final mention must go to Mathew McGinn, Chris McGrory and Craig Taylor who had fine performances in the green shirts in what was a hard fought but well-earned victory for Tir Conaill Harps.