Late Mary’s surge ends Sars double quest

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi-Final

St Mary’s 2-22

Thurles Sarsfields 1-17

Report: Michael Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Seamus Kennedy (St Mary’s)

SCORERS – St Mary’s: Peter McGarry 0-5 frees; Cathal Deely 1-2; Aaron Cagney, Sean Kennedy, Sammy Ryan 0-3 each; Thomas Charles 1-0; Ruairi Leahy, Seamus Kennedy 0-2 each; Harry Lawlor, Enda Dunphy (free) 0-1 each.

Thurles Sarsfields: Jack Lanigan 0-6 (5 frees); Tommy Doyle 0-4; Liam McCormack 0-3; Seanie Butler 1-0; Pa Bourke, Cathal Moloney 0-2 each.

St Mary’s ended Thurles Sarsfields hopes of double representation on County Hurling Final day when they fashioned a flattering eight point win over their Thurles rivals in the County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-final on Sunday.

The merit of the Clonmel sides win is beyond question but its extent does not do justice to the Thurles effort which suffered a severe setback with the loss of former county star and team leader Michael Cahill who was injured after 24 minutes.

Despite the loss, Sarsfields stayed competitive until the last quarter when the physically stronger St Mary’s side, helped by a Thomas Charles goal in the 58th minute, put the game to bed.

These sides met in the round-robin stage when St Mary’s were again victors. The club’s minor hurlers are also in the county final and Harry Lawlor of that team figured in this encounter. Hurling is on a high in Clonmel. One can only imagine what a county title would do to boost it further.

Inside a minute, Cathal Deely had the ball in the Thurles net and by the eighth minute they were 1-4 to 0-2 and flying.

It took Sarsfields some time to find their feet, but, with Tommy Doyle and Jack Lanigan leading the way, they made up the leeway to be level 0-9 to 1-6 after nineteen minutes and Doyle, with his fourth point of the half, put them ahead a minute later. Michael Cahill’s injury saw St Mary’s regain control and at the break they led 1-10 to 0-12.

Four minutes into the second half, St Mary’s had a Ruairi Leahy goal disallowed for an infringement of the square. Three minutes later, Seanie Buttler netted for Sarsfields to level the game at 1-13 each.

Mary’s were physically stronger than their opponents and they now began to turn up the heat. They were 1-20 to 1-17 ahead when Thomas Charles hit their second goal – that was enough to kill off the Sarsfields challenge, Peter McGarry pointing a late free for them for good measure.

St Mary’s are a strong side. Many of their players also figure with Clonmel Commercials, themselves in a county senior football semi-final this Saturday. Seamus Kennedy was their anchorman in defence and team leader to boot with Liam Ryan, Sammy Ryan, Sean Kennedy, Aaron Cagney and Cathal Deely others to greatly influence things for them. Peter McgGarry hit five points, all from frees, but was given little scope by Sars’ Kieran Costello.

Thurles Sarsfields have a Mid title to show for their efforts this year and can have no complaint about the result. Michael Cahill’s loss was immense and one can only speculate how his presence at the heart of the defence for the full hour might have changed things.

Kieran Costello excelled as did Tommy Doyle, with David Corbett, Jack Lanigan, Liam McCormack and Seosamh Ryan also to the fore.

TEAMS - St Mary’s: Enda Dunphy (6); Richie Gunn (6), Liam Ryan (7), Darragh O’Connor (6); Tadhg Sheehan (6), Seamus Kennedy (Capt 8), James Morris (6); Tadhg Condon (6), Sammy Ryan (7); Aaron Cagney (7), Peter McGarry (6), Sean Kennedy (7); Harry Lawlor (6), Cathal Deely (7), Joe Higgins (6).

Subs: Ruairi Leahy (7) for Higgins (HT); Thomas Charles (7) for O’Connor (37); Ross Peters (6) for Sean Kennedy (48); Ross Slattery (6) for S Ryan (52); Conor Deely (NR) for Lawlor (58 mins);

Thurles Sarsfields: Michael McCormack (6); Fionn Fogarty (6), Seosamh Ryan (7), Kieran Moloney (6); Michael Purcell (6), Michael Cahill (Capt 6), Kieran Costello (7); David Corbett (7), Cathal Moloney (6); Tommy Doyle (7), Jack Lanigan (7), Darragh Minogue (6); Cillian Minogue (6), Pa Bourke (6), Liam McCormack (7).

Subs: Jack O’Mara (6) for Cahill (24 inj); Seanie Butler (6) for D Minogue (35); Harry Fitzgibbon (6) for Purcell (42); Rory Purcell (6) for C Minogue (47); Conor Lanigan (6) for Bourke (53).

Referee: Cian Ryan (Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill).