Sars join dual senior ranks after passing Rockwell test

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Intermediate Football Championship Final

Thurles Sarsfields 0-1-15 (17)

Rockwell Rovers 0-3-8 (14)

(After Extra Time)

Report: Michael Dundon at Canon Hayes Park, Bansha

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Paddy Creedon (Thurles Sarsfields)

SCORERS – Thurles Sarsfields: Liam McCormack 0-6 (1x2free, 2x1frees); Kieran Costello 0-3 (1 free); Paddy Creedon, Kevin Bracken, Matthew Kelly 0-2 each; James Armstrong, Darragh Stakelum 0-1 each.

Rockwell Rovers: Alan Moloney 0-7 (2x2 play, 1x2free); TJ Ryan, Eoin Byrnes 0-2 each; Jack O’Kelly, Tom Downey, Kevin Cleary 0-1 each.

After seventy years in the lower grades of Tipperary football, Thurles Sarsfields have risen in top-flight competition following their hard-earned but fully deserved win over Rockwell Rovers in the County Intermediate Football Championship final on Sunday that took extra time to resolve.

A gripping struggle from start to finish, Sarsfields’ advantage in fitness told in the concluding stages of extra time but this contest could have gone either way.

Rockwell will point to a missed penalty in extra time, but Sarsfields too had a penalty saved after fifty minutes, and the Thurles lads played the last ten minutes of ordinary time with fourteen men, Conor Stapleton having been black carded.

For the rival fans it was hectic stuff. Sarsfields made the running almost all the way, and were headed only once, briefly in extra time, but while there was very little between the sides throughout, the Thurles lads had a slight edge, enough to get them over the line as the Rockwell challenge dropped a gear in the closing stages.

Relegated from senior two years ago, many fancied Rockwell Rovers to win, but on the day, they did not do enough in attack, a five point return from play well below what is required to succeed after eighty minutes football. In contrast, twelve of Sarsfields scores came from play, and while they too had their lapses in that regard, by and large they were the more efficient near the posts and duly reaped the reward.

The Thurles lads had much the better of things in the first half. Liam McCormack’s free-taking raised four points while Paddy Creedon kicked two from play, and Darragh Stakelum was also on target as they established a 0-7 to 0-4 lead by half-time.

Rovers were slow to get going, playing with far too much caution, but, following the scores from Jack O’Kelly, Alan Moloney, TJ Ryan, and Tom Downey, they were still very much in the game facing into the second half.

After twelve minutes of the second half, Rockwell had drawn level, a mighty two pointer free from Alan Moloney tying the game at 0-9 each. Sars didn’t wilt, frees by Liam McCormack and Kieran Costello getting them ahead again at the start of the final quarter.

In the fiftieth minute they had defender Conor Stapleton black carded. With Sars leading 0-11 to 0-10, they won a penalty but Rockwell goalie Eoghan Doyle turned Liam McCormack’s effort away in the 52nd minute, and a minute later Kevin Cleary tied the game for Rockwell. That’s how it stayed until referee Joe Leahy’s long whistle with both sides having chances to win.

In the first half of extra time, Rockwell won a penalty after two minutes when Cian O’Brien was fouled but Eoin Byrnes blast was turned away by Lorcan Cummins, the Sarsfields custodian. A goal then would surely have tipped the balance in Rockwell’s favour.

Instead Sarsfields broke up field for James Armstrong to nudge them ahead, a slight advantage they held through five further tense minutes until Kevin Bracken doubled it with his second point.

Rovers had two goal chances before the finish, but last ditch-defending, with Lorcan Cummins again performing heroics, saw Sars hold out, and Liam McCormack had the final say with his sixth point, to seal the win.

The result was enthusiastically greeted by Thurles Sarsfields players, mentors and supporters and was a fitting reward for the hard work put in to secure it. In past and current county men Paddy Creedon and Kieran Costello, Sarsfields had inspiring leaders on the field, but the industry of Darragh Stakelum, Kevin Bracken, and Henry Fogarty was crucial, as was the pace and accuracy of Liam McCormack, while goalie Lorcan Cummins contribution to the success was immense.

Tough luck on Rockwell Rovers who will hope to build on this year’s campaign to achieve success next year. Alan Moloney was their key man in attack with Kevin Cleary and TJ Ryan also prominent. Tom Downey did his stuff at midfield with Liam Fahey and goalie Eoghan Doyle also influential.

TEAMS – Thurles Sarsfields: Lorcan Cummins (7); Conor Fogarty (6), Cathal Hayes (6), Rory Dwan (6); Conor Stapleton (6), Michael Cahill (7), Henry Fogarty (7); Darragh Stakelum (7), Kieran Costello (8); Kevin Bracken (7), Paddy Creedon (9), Aidan Stakelum (6); Cian Stakelum (6), Aidan Ryan (6), Liam McCormack (7).

Subs: James Armstrong (6) for Cahill (35); John Broderick (6) for Bracken (52); David Bourke (6) for Stapleton (60); Matthew Kelly (7) for A Stakelum (4 ET); Kevin Bracken for A Ryan (14 ET).

Rockwell Rovers: Eoghan Doyle (7); Liam Lonergan (6), Robbie O’Donnell (6), Peter Heaney (6); Luca Fitzgerald (6), Liam Fahey (7), Kieran McGovern (6); Tom Downey (7), Gavin Ryan (6); Jack O’Kelly (6), Aidan Barron (6), Kevin Cleary (7); Eoin Byrnes (6), Alan Moloney (7), TJ Ryan (7).

Subs: Patrick Hickey (6) for O’Kelly (54); Stephen Boland (6) for Ryan (3 ET); Oisin Cummins (NR) for Fahey (17 ET).

Referee: Joe Leahy (Moyne-Templetuohy).