Kilsheelan eventually see off feisty Sarsfields

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Football Championship Group 2

Kilsheelan/Kilcash 2-16

Thurles Sarsfields 1-11

Report: Michael Heverin at Leahy Park, Cashel

Two goals from Mark Kehoe and ten points from Jamie Roche helped to steer Kilsheelan/Kilcash to an eight point win over Thurles Sarsfields, and with it a place in the knock-out stages, in their top of the table Group 2 clash in the County Senior Football Championship on Saturday.

It was a merited win for last year’s beaten finalists, who once again look serious contenders for championship honours, but they were pushed all the way by a Thurles Sarsfields side who for the second game in a row looked very comfortable back in senior ranks.

Their accuracy from play and placed balls needs to improve but they are still in the mix for a place in the knock-out phase when they take on Mid neighbours JK Brackens in their final group game.

Mark Kehoe’s early goal after ten seconds gave Kilsheelan a dream start, and when Barry Kehoe added a point within a minute it looked like it might be an easy day at the office for the South side.

However, they didn’t score again in the first quarter, with four points in a row from Sarsfields tying the sides by the 16th minute.

After early wides from James Armstrong and Matthew Kelly, the hugely impressive Armstrong made amends with two great scores in the space of sixty seconds.

Paddy Creedon then finished a great run with a score, and when Ronan O’Brien was fouled, Liam McCormack pointed the free to make it 1-1 to 0-4.

Kilsheelan needed a response and they got it when Shane Garland restored their lead, and they followed up with a Tommy O’Connor point.

Sarsfields produced a brilliant move with Michael Cahill and Paddy Creedon involved, before Kevin Bracken pointed.

But as their wides tally from play and frees started to hurt them, Kilsheelan made them pay at the other end. Micheál Freaney started a move that he ended himself with a fine score.

And then in the 23rd minute, Barry Kehoe – whose fielding was outstanding throughout – sent Tommy O’Connor away and his pass put Mark Kehoe clear through the centre and his brilliant shot gave Lorcan Cummins in the Sarsfields goal no chance.

Tommy O’Connor made it 2-5 to 0-5, but a Liam McCormack free in added time, following a foul on Armstrong, made it a five points game at the interval.

Kilsheelan/Kilcash edged the third quarter. Ronan O’Brien had opened the second half scoring with a Thurles point, following great play from the tireless Armstrong and Matthew Kelly, but the South side hit back with the first of Jamie Roche’s three two-point frees.

Sarsfields replied with a Liam McCormack free, but Kilsheelan went seven clear by the end of the third quarter, with Micheál Freaney setting up Barry Kehoe to score, and then Lucas Shiel providing the assist for Jamie Roche.

But then 1-2 in the space of a minute for Sarsfields threatened to turn the game on its head. County player Kieran Costello had been involved in most of his side’s best plays, and he showed his finishing prowess when he cut in from the left to blast to the net from a tight angle past Oisin O’Donoghue.

Sarsfields maintained the pressure and were rewarded with a super two pointer from Paddy Creedon.

Kilsheelan replied from a Roche free, but Sarsfields brought the margin back to just two points again when McCormack pointed a free that had been brought forward by referee Martin Doyle for a technical infringement.

However, Kilsheelan responded in style with Jamie Roche hitting their last six points, two two-pointer frees, a free and one from play.

Player of the Match: Jamie Roche (Kilsheelan/Kilcash)

Kilsheelan/Kilcash: Oisin O’Donoghue (7); Conor Neville (8), Jason Madigan (8), Emmet Butler (7); Mark Stokes (7), Conor Freaney (7), Billy O’Connor (7); Lucas Sheil (7), Micheál Freaney (0-1, 8); Tommy O’Connor (0-2, 8), Barry Kehoe (0-2, 8), Mikey McGuire (7); Shane Garland (0-1, 7), Mark Kehoe (2-0, 8), Jamie Roche (0-10, 3x2frees, 2 frees, 8).

Subs: Sean Ryan (7) for Butler (37); Senan Butler (7) for McGuire (47); Billy Murphy (NR) for Shiel (59); Shane Egan (NR) for C Freaney (59); Conor Davin Murphy (NR) for M Kehoe (60+1).

Thurles Sarsfields: Lorcan Cummins (7); Conor Fogarty (7), Cathal Hayes (7), Conor Stapleton (7); Patrick Stakelum (7), Michael Cahill (8), Henry Fogarty (7); Kieran Costello (1-0, 8), James Armstrong (0-2, 8); Matthew Kelly (8), Paddy Creedon (0-3, 1x2play, 8), Ronan O’Brien (0-1, 7); Kevin Bracken (0-1, 8), Liam McCormack (0-4f, 7), Harry Fitzgibbon (7).

Subs: Ruairi Dwan (7) for Fitzgibbon (34); Paraic Crone (7) for Kelly (49), John Broderick (NR) for Stakelum (59).

Referee: Martin Doyle (Ardfinnan).