Sarsfields come of age in lowering Holycross
GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Group 1
Thurles Sarsfields 2-18
Holycross/Ballycahill 2-16
Report: Michael Dundon in Boherlahan
A two-point winning margin did not flatter Thurles Sarsfields who top group one of the County Senior Hurling Championship after a second success, this at the expense of an under-performing Holycross-Ballycahill on Saturday afternoon.
Much is expected of this up and coming Holycross-Ballycahill side but they struggled to assert themselves against a Sarsfields team that hit fourteen first half wides in establishing a three-point interval lead. That waywardness could have, and, for a time, did look like costing the Thurles lads dearly but when the chips were down, they showed their mettle, three injury time points getting them over the line.
In a contest that, while always close, did not reached expected heights, Sarsfields showed commendable resilience in how they overcame their shooting lapses and the concession of early goals in each half to their rivals. They were 0-3 to 0-2 ahead when Robbie Ryan flicked home Joe Gould’s long delivery for a quality goal in the nineth minute.
That score should have ignited the Holycross challenge but Sarsfields were level four minutes later and might have had a goal but Paddy Creedon’s effort came off the woodwork. Their goal did come after seventeen minutes when the lively Kieran Rossiter was dragged to the ground and Aidan McCormack netting the penalty, 1-6 to 1-2.
Breeze-aided Sarsfields ought to have pushed on but with their wides tally mounting, and Darragh Woods’ accuracy from frees keeping Holycross in touch, their interval lead of 1-9 to 1-6 did not reflect their dominance and which left them vulnerable to the Holycross second half surge that seemed inevitable.
That surge came inside twenty seconds of resuming when Robbie Ryan, by far their most dangerous forward, flicked the ball in the Sarsfields net to level. The Abbey-siders were expected to drive on but Sarsfields showed great heart to reach the three-quarter stage on level terms, 1-14 to 2-11.
The decisive moment of the game came after 47 minutes when Keith Loughnane found Eoin Purcell with a well-directed delivery and he burrowed his way through for a goal.
Holycross were by no means done and with two minutes left on the hour, they were back on terms, 2-15 each. With a share of the spoils looking likely, Sarsfields found another gear. Aidan McCormack, Paddy Creedon and Euan Murray raised three white flags in as many minutes.
Holycross needed a goal but the Sarsfields defence stood firm, Darragh Woods opting to point a free with what turned out to be the last play of the game.
Make no mistake this was a big win for Thurles Sarsfields and one which should do wonders for morale with a place in the knock-out stages now in sight. Their last game is against Kilruane MacDonaghs and they will be hoping to build on gathering momentum as they chase county honours.
Stephen Maher missed this game through injury but should return, and All-Star Ronan Maher could soon also be back in the frame for selection. An injury to Stephen Cahill shortly after coming on, will be a concern in the coming days.
Conor Stakelum had another fine outing at number six while Denis Maher relished his return to defence. Euan Murray was on top of his game at midfield, while Aidan McCormack’s accuracy from frees and play is a key element of Sarsfields’ game. Eoin Purcell, Keith Loughnane and Aidan Stakelum also contributed handsomely to the win.
Having had to rely on a late scoring surge to get them over the line in their opening game against Kilruane, Holycross-Ballycahill are finding it hard to live up to expectations. Their next outing against Upperchurch/Drombane is a must win encounter and it is going to take a much improved performance to get the points there.
Robbie Ryan was their only real threat in attack where Darragh Woods’ accuracy from frees was also significant. Further back, Cathal O’Reilly, Tadhg Gould, and Cathal Barrett had good games but overall, it was a disappointing performance.
Player of the Match: Aidan McCormack (Thurles Sarsfields)
Thurles Sarsfields: Patrick McCormack (6); Paul Maher (6), Denis Maher (7), Henry Fogarty (6); Keith Loughnane (7), Conor Stakelum (0-1f, 7), Cian Stakelum (6); Euan Murray (0-2, 7), Daniel Rossiter (6); Eoin Purcell (1-2, 7), Darragh Stakelum (0-2, 7), Aidan Stakelum (0-1, 6); Kieran Rossiter (7), Paddy Creedon (0-2, 6), Aidan McCormack (1-8, 1-0 pen, 0-5f) 8).
Subs: Stephen Cahill (NR) for K Rossiter (45); Tom Maher (6) for Cahill (54); James Armstrong (NR) for Cian Stakelum (57); Robbie Stapleton (NR) for Purcell (59).
Holycross/Ballycahill: Ewan Bourke (7); Cathal O’Reilly (7), Cathal Barrett (7), Jack Ryan (0-1, 6); Evan Morris (6), Bryan O’Mara (6), Tadhg Gould (0-2, 7); Tiernan Ryan (0-1, 6), Joe Caesar (6); Jimmie Lahart (6), Eoin Craddock (6), David Fogarty (6); Robbie Ryan (2-1, 7), Darragh Woods (0-11, 8f, 7), Mikey Nally (6).
Subs: Ben Hennessy (6) for Fogarty (40); Jack Dwan (6) for Lahart (48).
Referee: Sean Lonergan (Moyle Rovers).