Sarsfields up the pace to get the better of Loughmore

GAA: FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Thurles Sarsfields 1-22

Loughmore/Castleiney 2-12

Report: Michael Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Darragh Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields).

SCORERS – Thurles Sarsfields: Aidan McCormack 1-6 (0-4 frees); Darragh Stakelum 0-6; Stephen Cahill 0-3; Conor Stakelum, Ronan Maher (frees) 0-2 each; James Armstrong, Eoin Purcell, Cathal Moloney 0-1 each.

Loughmore/Castleiney: John McGrath 1-6 (1-0 pen, 0-6 frees); Ciaran McCormack 1-1; Liam McGrath 0-2; Lorcan Egan, Ciaran Connolly, Noel McGrath 0-1 each.

Thurles Sarsfields are back in the County Senior Hurling final after comprehensively defeating Loughmore-Castleiney in the semi-final on Saturday evening, in an encounter that didn’t quite come up to expectations as The Blues streaked clear of their rivals in the second half.

Loughmore-Castleiney went into this game at a distinct disadvantage. The continued absence from the heart of their defence of Joey Hennessy and John Meagher has weakened their challenge for honours and that situation was compounded by their talisman Noel McGrath’s hamstring problem, which saw miss their football semi-final a week earlier and greatly reduced his influence on proceeding.

To be without three such key players at this stage of the championship was too much for Loughmore-Castleiney but in typical fashion, they made light of their difficulties and readily acknowledged the merit of the Sarsfields win after the game.

On a very heavy pitch the first half was a finely balanced affair with Sarsfields enjoying more of the play but registering nine wides, four in the first five minutes. Loughmore led briefly 0-2 to 0-1 after seven minutes, Sarsfields hitting four wides in that spell but then the Sarsfields lads found their range, and with Darragh Stakelum on fire with three points from play in four minutes, they pushed clear 0-7 to 0-4 after 24 minutes, John McGrath frees (3) and a Noel McGrath point accounting for Loughmore’s tally.

In the 25th minute, Ciaran McCormack profited from a lucky break to win possession but showed great determination as he raced through to rifle home a great goal to level 1-4 to 0-7. Liam McGrath and John McGrath added points as Loughmore began to assert themselves, and with Sarsfields’ Billy McCarthy having a shot for goal turned away by Loughmore goalie Micheal McGrath, went in at the break 1-6 to 0-8 in front and with very reason to be pleased at how things were going for them.

Sarsfields were disappointed to be behind at the interval having had the better of the first half exchanges and whatever manager Padraic Maher said at half-time worked wonders as they resumed with a hunger and drive that Loughmore could not contain. In ten minutes Sarsfields outscored their rivals 0-7 to 0-1, with six different marksmen getting on the score-sheet as they moved 0-15 to 1-7 clear.

Loughmore were lacking in energy and subdued but John McGrath’s free-taking (2) and further points from Lorcan Egan and Ciaran McCormack kept them in the hunt. Sarsfields were 0-18 to 1-12 ahead with five minutes to play but by no means safe when Paddy Creedon set up Aidan McCormack for a Sarsfields goal, to which Darragh Stakelum (2) and Ronan Maher (free) quickly added, as the game moved into injury time with the Thurles lads leading 1-21 to 1-12.

There was no way back for Loughmore now but in the second minute of added time, John McGrath netted a penalty after Ciaran McCormack was fouled. Had it come a bit earlier it might have made for a more intense finish, but it was of no consequence at this stage and Steven Cahill rounded off a fine individual performance with a Sarsfields point, his third of the day.

So, Thurles Sarsfields march on to the final, the dismay at their opening loss in the campaign to Kiladangan now well behind them. The appear to be gaining momentum with every outing and but for some rather slack shooting in the first half could have had this game out to bed much earlier.

They had a Man of the Match performance from Darragh Stakelum, who is having a great championship. Ronan Maher at the heart of the defence, is the driving force in the team but the contributions of such as Paul Maher, Cathal Moloney, Stephen Cahill, Paul Maher, Conor Stakelum and Aidan McCormack were very significant in this win. It was a difficult week for Loughmore/Castleiney who a week earlier were knocked out of the football championship also at the semi-final stage, but they are a resilience bunch and will be back again next year in the hunt for honours.

With Noel McGrath hampered by injury, and John McGrath held scoreless from play, their challenge was greatly curtailed but Ciaran McCormack, Brian McGrath, Tommy Maher, Ciaran Connolly, John Ryan, and Liam McGrath gave it everything.

TEAMS – Thurles Sarsfields: Patrick McCormack (6); Paul Maher (7), Denis Maher (6), Stephen Maher (6); James Armstrong (6), Ronan Maher (8), Michael Purcell (6); Cathal Moloney (7), Stephen Cahill (7); Conor Stakelum (6), Seanie Butler (6), Billy McCarthy (6); Darragh Stakelum (9), Aidan McCormack (7), Eoin Purcell (6).

Subs: David Corbett (6) for Moloney (48); Paddy Creedon for E Purcell (53); Tommy Doyle for Butler (56); Jack Derby (6) for M Purcell (57); Cian Stakelum (NR) for A McCormack (58).

Loughmore/Castleiney: Micheal McGrath (6); Lorcan Egan (6), Ed Meagher (6), Willie Eviston (6); John Ryan (7), Brian McGrath (7), Tommy Maher (6); Ciaran Connolly (6), Tomas McGrath (6); Ed Connolly (6), Liam McGrath (7), Noel McGrath (6); Philip O’Connell (6), John McGrath (6), Ciaran McCormack (7).

Sub: Ciaran McGrath (6) for O’Connell (42).

Referee: Alan Tierney (Shannon Rovers).