Sarsfields forced to dig deep to hold off Mullinahone

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Group 2 Round 2

Thurles Sarsfields 1-23

CJ Kickhams Mullinahone 2-15

Report: Michael Dundon at Leahy Park, Cashel

Conor Stakelum turned in a man of the match performance for Thurles Sarsfields as they saw off the challenge of CJ Kickhams Mullinahone in round two of group two of the County Senior Hurling Championship on Saturday.

The county star and team captain, was deployed in a defensive role for The Blues and got on an enormous amount of ball, getting forward also to score two points from play and another from a free as Sarsfields got their campaign back on track after an initial loss to Nenagh Eire Og.

For both sides, a win was imperative. Mullinahone lost to Cashel in their opening game and face Nenagh in their next. This defeat leaves them facing possible relegation while Sarsfields will have the chance to secure a quarter-final spot if they can beat Cashel in their final game.

For both teams, it was all to play for in this clash but a first half that was modest in tempo and quality did not reflect the urgency of the situation. Mullinahone led at the break, 1-8 to 0-9 and were full value for it. Eoin O’Dwyer got their goal after 22 minutes to put them 1-6 to 0-6 ahead, but it was still very much anybody’s game as they faced out for the second half.

Mullinahone got the perfect start to the second half with a Martin Keogh goal after three minutes, but they were then outplayed for the rest of the third quarter as Sarsfields shot five points without reply through Darragh Stakelum (3 frees), Paddy Creedon, and Billy McCarthy to level at 0-14 to 2-8.

Advantage Sarsfields it seemed, but Sean Curran, after seeing three frees wide of target, found the range to put them ahead again at the end of the third quarter. Then came the decisive few minutes. In the 46th minute, Billy McCarthy set up Darragh Stakelum for a brilliantly finished goal, followed rapidly by points from Liam McCormack and Paddy Creedon to send Sarsfields 1-16 to 2-9 clear.

Now it was Mullinahone who were doing the chasing. A brace of Sean Curran points kept them in touch before the sides shared eight points in the run up to the hour leaving Sarsfields 1-20 to 2-15 clear.

A precarious lead, but in injury time Sarsfields again produced a flourish, points from Liam McCormack, Eoin Purcell, and Darragh Stakelum getting them over the line with a flattering five points to spare.

While Thurles Sarsfields would have wished for a more impressive performance, they got the job done and will be seeking to build on this display when they encounter Cashel. They were without Aidan McCormack and Pa Bourke and took a long time to find their rhythm but when they did get going, they looked the better side.

Conor Stakelum was their top performer but the contributions of Denis Maher, Paul Maher, Stephen Cahill, Paddy Creedon, Ronan Maher, and Darragh Stakelum were also crucial to the win.

Mullinahone face difficult last round against Nenagh, where even a win might not be enough to keep them out of the relegation play-offs. They will take heart from this showing but still have work to do to protect their senior status.

They were left to regret some missed chances from frees and play, an aspect of their game they need to address before they play Nenagh. The absence of injured Eamon Ryan, Jack Shelly, and Michael Dunne did them no favours and Eoin Fennelly was also out due to suspension. Their return will greatly strengthen their hand. Colin Shelly, Conor Whelan Sean Curran, Paul Curran, and Mikey O’Shea were most prominent for them.

Player of the Match: Conor Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields)

Thurles Sarsfields: Patrick McCormack (6); Harry Fitzgibbon (5), Denis Maher (0-1, 7), Paul Maher (7); Conor Stakelum (0-3, 1f, 9), Ronan Maher (7), Kieran Costello (6); Stephen Cahill (0-1, 7), Seanie Butler (6); Cian Stakelum (6), Darragh Stakelum (1-10, 0-10f, 7), Paddy Creedon (0-2, 7); Eoin Purcell (0-2, 6), Billy McCarthy (0-1, 6), Liam McCormack (0-3, 6).

Subs: Stephen Maher (6) for Fitzgibbon (27); Keith Loughnane (6) for Butler (36); Tommy Maher (6) for Cian Stakelum (38); Cathal Moloney (6) for Cahill (51); Henry Fogarty (6) for P Maher (53).

CJ Kickhams, Mullinahone: Brendan Kearney (6); Daire O’Brien (6), Paul Curran (7), Colin Shelly (7); Darragh Linnane (6), Conor Whelan (0-1f, 7), Martin Keogh (1-0, 6); Sean Curran (0-11, 7f, 7), Conor O’Brien (6); Sam Rowan (0-1, 6), Eoin O’Dwyer (1-0, 6), Enda Keane (0-1, 6); Mikey O’Shea (0-1, 6), Alan Curran (6), Graham Horan (6).

Subs: Cillian Direen (6) for Horan (30); Graham Horan for Keane (44); Danny Dunne (6) for O’Dwyer (49); Mathew Direen for Horan (60).

Referee: Alan Tierney (Shannon Rovers).