Cahill sparks Sarsfields to football final win

GAA: FBD Insurance County Junior ‘A’ Football Championship Final

Thurles Sarsfields 1-9

Sean Treacys 0-8

Report: Michael Dundon in Clonoulty

Thurles Sarsfields won the County Junior ‘A’ Football title for the first time since 1989 when they defeated Sean Treacys in a competitive final on Friday night.

It was Sarsfields second time winning the John Burke Cup and they will now go on to represent Tipperary in the Munster club championship quarter final against Liscannor of Clare.

There was little between these teams all through, but Sarsfields played a trump card with the introduction of former county hurler Michael Cahill at half-time. Cahill, whose hurling year was marred by injury, scored the crucial goal in the 42nd minute but more than that his ball-winning and distribution to colleagues was top-drawer and was instrumental in unlocking a Treacy’s defensive network that was holding out well against a slicker Thurles attack.

Treacys were disadvantaged from the start by the unavailability of Paddy Deegan, Pat Carey and Emmet Ryan and they can only speculate as to how things might have gone were they at full strength. Their attacking options were less threatening than Sarsfields and when Treacys found themselves level at half-time, 0-3 each, having played with the fresh breeze, they were in trouble.

Scores were at a premium in the opening period, Michael Feehan’s free opening Treacys account after four minutes to which Liam McCormack replied for Sarsfields in the sixteenth minute.

Sarsfields’ faster approach work stretched Treacys but the Thurles lads’ spurned point chances in their quest for goals. Michael Feehan’s second pointed free restored Treacy’s lead but Kevin Bracken levelled for Sarsfields after 25 minutes. Aidan Ryan nudged them ahead a minute later but in injury time James Deegan pointed a Treacys free to leave it 0-3 each at the break.

Feehan again put Treacys in front on resuming but Sarsfields now got a grip on the game with Michael Cahill a key figure. Kevin Bracken and Liam McCormack points put them ahead, but Darragh Kennedy levelled. Cahill edged Sarsfields in front again and then the decisive goal came in the 42nd minute when Cahill finished a fine five-man move to the net for a 1-6 to 0-5 lead.

Liam McCormack hit the woodwork with a goal-bound effort as Sarsfields pushed to kill-off the game, but Treacys showed admirable fighting spirit and points by Darragh Kennedy and Michael Feehan had them breathing down Sarsfields necks with nine minutes to play.

Treacys then suffered a serious setback when Tom Hickey, a driving force in the side, was sent off for a second yellow card. Liam McCormack immediately restored Sarsfields three-point advantage, but Michael Feehan reduced it to two with five minutes to play. The extra man in the stamina-sapping conditions told for Sarsfields who finished with a brace of James Armstrong points to win the title for only the second time.

Thurles Sarsfields were the better team and deserved their win. While Michael Cahill’s intervention was the tipping point, the displays of Emmet Fogarty, Henry Fogarty, James Armstrong, Kieran Costello, Kevin Bracken, Michael Russell, and Liam McCormack were also immense.

Sean Treacys did themselves proud but came up just short. Sean Ryan, Tom Hickey, Michael Feehan, Paul Nolan, and Darragh Kennedy were their top performers, but scoring just two points from play was not title-winning form and they can have no complaints.

Player of the Match: Michael Cahill (Thurles Sarsfields)

Thurles Sarsfields: Lorcan Cummins (6); Glenn Kerrigan (6), Cathal Hayes (6), Emmet Fogarty (7); Darragh Stakelum (6), Henry Fogarty (7), Conor Fogarty (6); Kieran Costello (7), James Armstrong (0-2, 7); Kevin Bracken (0-2, 7), Paddy Creedon (6), Liam McCormack (0-3, 1f, 7); David Burke (6), Aidan Ryan (0-1, 6), Michael Russell (7).

Subs: Michael Cahill (1-1, 9) for Burke (HT); Aidan Stakelum (6) for Bracken (43); Alex Moloney (6) for Ryan (50), Seanie Butler (NR) for C Fogarty (56).

Sean Treacys: Cathal Kennedy (6); Brian Nolan (6), Sean Hickey (6), Brendan O’Dwyer (6); Tom Hickey (7), Sean Ryan (7), Andy O’Brien (6); Paul Nolan (7), Michael Feehan (0-5f, 7); James Deegan (0-1f, 6), Brian Carey (6), Darragh Kennedy (0-2, 7); Stephen Carr (6), Jody Ryan (6), Phil Deegan (6).

Subs: Tom O’Dwyer (6) for O’Dwyer (44), Stephen Rochford (6) for Carr (46).

Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Ardfinnan)