O'Kelly-Lynch strikes late to seal Sligo SHC crown for Naomh Eoin

Naomh Eoin's Gerard O'Kelly Lynch in action for Sligo ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Naomh Eoin pulled off a shock in Sligo by defeating Easkey (0-17 to 1-13) to claim their second senior hurling title and first since 2019.

Captain Paul O’Leary opened the scoring after just 20 seconds, but Patrick Walsh’s goal helped Easkey stay in contention as Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch’s frees drove Naomh Eoin into a 0-13 to 1-6 half-time lead at Markievicz Park.

The Sligo Town side looked in control at 0-16 to 1-8 with 12 minutes remaining, but Easkey fought back, with Andrew Kilcullen’s eighth point of the afternoon levelling the scores two minutes into injury-time.

Finnian Cawley then edged Easkey in front, with Naomh Eoin responding with a point to seemingly forcing extra-time, before O’Kelly-Lynch struck a dramatic free in the 64th minute to snatch victory.