Easkey of Sligo created history on Saturday by winning the Connacht junior club hurling title with a 0-5 to 0-4 victory over Galway champions Ballygar in atrocious conditions at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence in Bekan.
It’s Easkey first ever adult provincial hurling title – and it was secured in biblical weather conditions in Bekan.
Listen back to the trophy presentation here.
Strong wind and sheets of rain blowing across the pitch made coherent hurling an impossibility – and there was some surprise that match officials opted to go ahead with the fixture.
The first half produced just four scores – with the sides level at the turnaround at 0-2 each.
To Easkey’s credit, their more vaunted opponents Ballygar were restricted to precious few scoring chances.
Easkey were never behind in this Connacht final – and in the closing quarter, key points from Andrew Kilcullen and Tommy Cawley helped propel Michael Gordon’s side to an historic victory.
Kilcullen, who was named on the Christy Ring/Nicky Rackard Team of the Year for his Sligo performances during 2022, scored 0-4 of Easkey’s total.
Midfielder Finnian Cawley collected the Player of the Match award.
Easkey are managed by Michael Gordon – and coached, conincidently by Ballygar native Brian Healy.
Easkey now join Calry/St Joseph’s on the Connacht junior club hurling roll of honour – the Hazelwood club having previously won four provincial club titles in 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2016.
Connacht junior club hurling final
Easkey (Sligo) 0-5 Ballygar (Galway) 0-4
