Sarsfields ease into last four

County Senior Hurling Championship Quarter Final

Thurles Sarsfields 2-19

Clonoulty/Rossmore 1-14

Report: Michael Dundon at Semple Stadium

An eight-point winning margin did not flatter Thurles Sarsfields as they saw off the challenge of Clonoulty-Rossmore in the County Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final on Saturday.

Despite a number of surges by Clonoulty-Rossmore as they tried to make up lost ground, favourites Sarsfields always seemed to have something in reserve which, when they appeared to be coming under pressure, enabled them to pull clear again.

This was clearly seen in the first half. Sarsfields raced into a 0-7 to 0-3 lead by the water break, an on-song Aidan McCormack bagging four of the points, but then Clonoulty found their feet, three Timmy Hammersley points and another from Jack Ryan split by Aidan McCormack’s effort for Thurles, had the west champions adrift by just a single point (0-7 to 0-8) after 23 minutes.

Just as Clonoulty fans were beginning to make themselves heard Sarsfields floored them with two goals in four minutes. First, Seanie Butler and Michael Cahill combined to set up Pa Bourke for a rasping goal in the 24th minute. Ronan Maher and Stephen Cahill whipped over Thurles points and in the 28th minute when Denis Maher was grounded, Ronan Maher netted the resulting penalty.

In a twinkling the complexion of the game had changed again and Sarsfields went on to lead 2-11 to 0-8 at the interval. They looked very comfortable even if not at their most fluent, but Clonoulty were by no means throwing in the towel. Again, the West boys had a great third quarter, four Timmy Hammersley points, and another from Conor, to Aidan McCormack’s sole reply for Sarsfields left them only five behind.

The momentum was with Clonoulty, who but for some slack shooting might have been even closer than 2-13 to 0-13 at the second water break. Just before the break Jack Ryan had a great goal effort for Clonoulty beaten out by Sarsfields goalkeeper Patrick McCormack. The impact a Clonoulty goal would have had on the game at that stage is anybody’s guess.

A six points deficit was manageable for Clonoulty if they were good enough but instead it was Sarsfields who raised their game when their victory looked under threat. Ronan Maher, Darragh Stakelum and Aidan McCormack fired over points to stretch their lead to nine points as the game moved into injury time.

Timmy Hammersley and Conor Stakelum swapped points before Jack Ryan blasted a 20m free to the Thurles net in the 63rd minute. Once more Sarsfields responded to the threat however, a brace of Aidan McCormack points seeing them safely through to the semi-final.

Sarsfields supporters will argue that their lads were not at their best, but the important fact is that they got the desired result and always showed the required resolve when their success looked under threat.

A tendency to take the foot off the pedal when in a commanding position is something they will have to deal with as they face up to the big challenges ahead, but they are unbeaten this year at divisional or county level, and the self-belief that generates will be important in the coming weeks.

The influence of the Maher brothers, Padraic and Ronan at the heart of the Sarsfields defence is immense and once again they were dominant figures. A second half ankle injury to Padraic which necessitated prolonged attention was a concern, but he finished off the game with the damaged ankle strapped and Sars fans will be hoping that there will be no adverse reaction.

Aidan McCormack had a match-winning game in attack, his accuracy from dead ball situations crucial to this win. Pa Bourke too looks to have regained his old sharpness while the work of Michael and Stephen Cahill at midfield also had a big bearing on the outcome.

Clonoulty-Rossmore will be disappointed not to have been closer to the rivals at the finish, but they can have no complaint about the result as they were beaten by a better team. However, they will wonder how things might have gone had the Jack Ryan effort found the Thurles net but overall they were struggling in too many positions to threaten an upset.

In Jack Ryan, Clonoulty have found a promising young forward who would appear to have bright future ahead of him, but they need an injection of new blood to re-energise a side which has consistently challenged for the top honour in the county.

It was largely the old guard who did most to advance their cause in this game with John O’Keeffe as influential as even in the number six shirt. Robert Doyle too did well at full-back with Enda Heffernan, Dillon Quirke, and marksman Timmy Hammersley also to the fore.

Player of the Match: Aidan McCormack (Thurles Sarsfields)

Thurles Sarsfields: Patrick McCormack (7); Paul Maher (6), Padraic Maher (7), Seosamh Ryan (6); David Corbett (7), Ronan Maher (1-2, 1-0 pen, 7), Jack Derby (6); Michael Cahill (7), Stephen Cahill (0-3, 7); Pa Bourke (1-2, 7), Conor Stakelum (0-1, 6), Aidan McCormack (0-9, 7f) 8); Seanie Butler (6), Denis Maher (0-1, 6), Paddy Creedon (6).

Subs: Darragh Stakelum (0-1, 6) for Butler (40); Eoin Purcell (NR) for Bourke (57); Cathal Moloney (NR) for M Cahill (59), Kieran Moloney (NR) for Paul Maher (60+5).

Clonoulty/Rossmore: Jimmy Maher (6); Sean O’Connor (6), Robert Doyle (7), James Ryan (6); Enda Heffernan (6), John O’Keeffe (7), Tommy Ryan (6); Michael Ryan (6), Conor Hammersley (0-1, 6); Ronan Heffernan (6), Dillon Quirke (0-1, 6), Thomas Butler (0-1, 6); Stephen Ferncombe (6), Timmy Hammersley (0-9, 8f) 6), Jack Ryan (1-2, 1-0 pen, 7).

Subs: James Hammersley (6) for Ferncombe (53); Ciaran Quirke (NR) for O’Connor (60+5).

Referee: Conor Doyle (Silvermines).