McGarry double sees St Mary’s straight into last eight
GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 1
St Mary's 2-21
Thurles Sarsfields 1-19
Report: Michael Heverin in Golden
St Mary’s took the direct route into the quarter finals of the County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship with victory over Thurles Sarsfields in their final group game on Sunday, an outcome that leaves the Mid men in the preliminary quarter finals.
It was a deserved win for the Clonmel side, who had an outstanding performance from two-goal star Peter McGarry, but they had to hold on in the end to withstand a spirited Sarsfield revival who had reduced an eight point deficit to two, and were pressing for the winning goal when St Mary’s broke clear and McGarry clinched the win with his second goal deep in stoppage time.
McGarry’s first goal just before the interval had given St Mary’s a 1-11 to 0-12 lead at the break. The sides were level six times in the opening half of a competitive encounter as both sides sought to join table-toppers Killenaule in a straight run to the quarter finals.
The one moment of magic in the half was McGarry’s goal, when superb fielding from Cathal Deely created the chance, and the county player gave Michael McCormack no chance with a rasping shot.
His Tipperary team-mate Seamus Kennedy was outstanding at the heart of the defence, with Tadhg Condon, Harry Lawlor and Deely brothers, Cathal & Conor, impressing. Jack Lanigan’s free-taking was crucial for Sarsfields, with Tommy Doyle, Bill Fogarty, and Darragh Minogue looking sharp for Sarsfields.
After Doyle and McGarry exchanged early second half points, St Mary’s were the better team in the third quarter. McGarry pointed four more frees, including three on the bounce as the Clonmel side caused serious problems for the Sars defence, and were 1-18 to 0-14 ahead by the 46th minute.
The lead had stretched to 1-21 to 0-16 by the 57th minute, with second half substitutes Thomas Charles and Ross Peters among the St Mary’s scorers.
It looked done and dusted for the Clonmel side but nervous moments followed as their composure deserted them and they conceded 1-3 without reply. Substitute Rory Purcell kick-started the revival and Jack Lanigan followed up when put clear by Cillian Minogue. Then when Sars were awarded a free, and veteran Pa Bourke had only one thing on his mind as he rifled the ball to the net. When Purcell followed up with another point, it looked as if Sarsfields might get the direct route to the quarter finals and push St Mary’s into the preliminaries.
But the Sars momentum was stalled when Seamus Kennedy made one of his trademark catches and clearances, and set Peter McGarry clear for the clinching goal. McGarry still had work to do but is playing with such confidence at the moment, both in hurling and football, that he had only a goal on his mind as he blasted past McCormack
Player of the Match: Peter McGarry (St Mary’s)
St Mary’s: Enda Dunphy (0-1f, 7); Richie Gunne (8), Liam Ryan (7), Darragh O’Connor (7); Tadhg Sheehan (0-1, 8), Seamus Kennedy (8), James Morris (7); Sammy Ryan (7), Tadhg Condon (0-2, 8); Sean Kennedy (7), Conor Deely (7), Cathal Deely (0-1, 8); Harry Lawlor (0-3, 8), Joe Higgins (7), Peter McGarry (2-9, 7f, 9).
Subs: Thomas Charles (0-2, 8) for S Ryan (36), Ross Peters (0-1, 7) for Higgins (43), Aaron Cagney (0-1, 7) for Sean Kennedy (47), James Power (6) for Conor Deely (55), Darragh Landers (6) for Lawlor (57).
Thurles Sarsfields: Michael McCormack (7); Fionn Fogarty (7), Kieran Costello (8), Kieran Moloney (7); Michael Purcell (7), Michael Cahill (8), Cathal Moloney (7); David Corbett (7), Tommy Doyle (0-3, 8); Liam McCormack (0-2, 8), Philip Hayes (7), Bill Fogarty (7); Cillian Minogue (0-1, 8), Darragh Minogue (0-1, 8), Jack Lanigan (0-9, 6f, 8).
Subs: Seosamh Ryan (7) for Moloney (HT), Pa Bourke (1-1, 1-0f, 8) for Hayes (40), Rory Purcell (0-2, 1f, 8) for Minogue (50), Conor Lanigan (6) for L McCormack (55), Harry Fitzgibbon (6) for Corbett (57).
Referee: Cian Ryan (Eire Óg Annacarty/D).