Depleted Sars issue warning to pretenders
By Michael Dundon
County champions Thurles Sarsfields had some anxious moments before finally seeing off the challenge of Upperchurch-Drombane 1-24 to 1-15 in group 3 of the County Senior Hurling Shampionship at The Ragg on Saturday.
This was Sarsfields second brace of points in the group, having gotten a walk-over from Carrick Swans in the opening round, and while they won handsomely in the end, it was far from a vintage performance from the holders who are chasing a record-equalling fifth title on the trot.
Upperchurch-Drombane, surprise winners over Drom & Inch in their first game, have been close to Sarsfields in recent encounters, and so it was again in the first half. Conor Stakelum’s ninth minute goal put Sarsfields 1-3 to 0-3 ahead but Jack Butler had ‘the Church’ level with a 16th minute goal. Upperchurch finished the half strongly, shooting six points without reply for a 1-12 to 1-9 interval lead.
Without county stars Ronan Maher (in America), and the injured Billy McCarthy, and with Lar Corbett also injured, Sarsfields looked vulnerable enough and made little headway in reducing the deficit in the third quarter. Indeed Upperchurch who themselves were missing Paul Ryan, Gavin Ryan and Colm Ryan, squandered four good chances of points to extend their advantage. This came back to haunt them as Sarsfields finally clicked into gear, holding their opponents scoreless in the last quarter while themselves whipping over twelve points for a somewhat flattering nine points win.
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