Holycross ease past lacklustre Sars

GAA: Centenary Agri Mid Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Holycross/Ballycahill 2-20

Thurles Sarsfields 0-17

Report: Michael Dundon at The Ragg

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Tadhg Gould (Holycross/Ballycahill)

SCORERS – Holycross/Ballycahill: Darragh Woods 1-6 (0-5 frees); Joe Caesar 0-4; David Fogarty 1-0; Eoin Craddock 0-2; Tadhg Gould, Cathal Barrett, Robbie Ryan, Tiarnan Ryan, Liam Doyle, Jack Dwan, Mikey Nally, Jimmie Lahart 0-1 each.

Thurles Sarsfields: Darragh Stakelum 0-8 (4 frees); Euan Murray 0-3; Eoin Purcell, Denis Maher 0-2 each; Aidan Stakelum, Aidan McCormack 0-1 each.

Chasing a first Mid senior hurling title since 1999, Holycross/Ballycahill streaked past an under-performing Thurles Sarsfields in a low-key semi-final on Sunday, possibly flattered by a nine point winning margin, but, nevertheless, thoroughly deserving of their success.

After a hesitant extra time win over Drom & Inch in the quarter-final, Holycross raised their game immeasurably and, helped by a goal in each half, outgunned their rivals whose finishing let them down badly and who faded after a bright start.

It was by no means the classic many anticipated. Genuine championship intensity was never reached with a lot of loose play in both halves. Holycross made better use of their chances, though they too had their lapses, while Sarsfields, with nineteen wides and three botched goal chances, can have no complaints about the outcome.

After twelve minutes, Sarsfields led 0-6 to 0-3 and looked to be flying. However, Holycross then began to get on top. They were 0-5 to 0-6 behind when David Fogarty punished a defensive error with a Holycross goal to put them ahead and they were never subsequently led. The scales were tipping in Holycross’ favour and by half-time they had forged a 1-10 to 0-10 lead. It was no more than they deserved and challenged Sarsfields to up their game in the second period if they were to stay in the competition.

The place in the final was still up for grabs even as Holycross extended their advantage to five points, 1-15 to 0-13, ten minutes into the second half. They had out-pointed their rivals five to three and then came the decisive score; an excellent display of off-the shoulder running involving five players saw the ball move from defence to attack where Darragh Woods dispatched it to the net. It was followed immediately by points from Joe Caesar and Liam Doyle and one sensed then that redemption was beyond Sarsfields.

To their credit they didn’t capitulate. Three points on the trot from Darragh Stakelum (2) and Euan Murray raised their hopes briefly to be seven behind with as many minutes to play. Holycross didn’t panic and were using their bench, while being content to contain their rivals in the closing stages of a win that confirms their status as genuine championship material this year.

A clear indication of Holycross/Ballycahill potential lies in the statistic that they had eleven different scorers but equally impressive was the manner in which they defended, closing off the threat presented by the Sarsfields attack with a tenacity and intensity that was admirable.

Cathal Barrett was outstanding at fullback with Joe Caesar also having a great game but the work of Tadhg Gould throughout was top-drawer. Not far behind these were Cathal O’Reilly, Bryan O’Mara, and Eoin Craddock, while Darragh Woods’ accuracy from placed balls is a considerable weapon in their armoury. In this form they will seriously challenge county champions Loughmore/Castleiney in this weekend’s final in Boherlahan.

Thurles Sarsfields followers were hugely disappointed with their side’s performance. Having gotten off to a lively start they failed to build on the advantage established, and once Holycross caught them they were always struggling to stay in the game. Once they conceded the second goal, there was just token resistance as the winners cruised into the final. The absence of All-Star Ronan Maher is badly felt and he is unlikely to see action unless Sarsfields make the knock-out stages of the county championship. Paddy Creedon was also missing but will be back for the county series, but the absences does not explain the lacklustre second half effort.

In a severely tested defence, Paul Maher kept a tight rein on Holycross danger man Robbie Ryan. Henry Fogarty and Conor Stakelum also had good games as did Euan Murray at midfield. Darragh Stakelum was the most productive Sarsfield’s forward, with Eoin Purcell getting his customary few scores while Daniel Rossiter and Aidan Stakelum worked their socks off all through.

TEAMS – Holycross/Ballycahill: Ewan Bourke (6); Cathal O’Reilly (7), Cathal Barrett (8), Evan Morris (6); Jack Ryan (6), Bryan O’Mara (7), Liam Doyle (6); Tadhg Gould (9), Joe Caesar (7); Tiernan Ryan (6), Eoin Craddock (7), David Fogarty (6); Robbie Ryan (6), Mikey Nally (6), Darragh Woods (7).

Subs: Ben Hennessy (6) for Fogarty (54); Jimmie Lahart (6) for Nally (55); Jack Dwan (6) for Barrett (56).

Thurles Sarsfields: Patrick McCormack (6); Henry Fogarty (7), Stephen Maher (6), Paul Maher (7); Keith Loughnane (7), Conor Stakelum (7), Cian Stakelum (6); Daniel Rossiter (7), Euan Murray (7); Darragh Stakelum (7), Aidan Stakelum (7), Eoin Purcell (7); Kieran Rossiter (6), Denis Maher (6), Robbie Stapleton (6).

Subs: Stephen Cahill (6) for Stapleton (38); Aidan McCormack (6) for D Maher (41); Tommy Maher (6) for K Rossiter (45); James Armstrong (6) for A Stakelum (47).

Referee: Johnny Butler (Upperchurch/Drombane).