Stakelum points Thurles past Mullinahone

GAA: FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Championship Group 2

Thurles Sarsfields 0-29

Mullinahone 1-19

Report: Michael Dundon in Cashel

County man Conor Stakelum scored seven points from play in a man of the match display as Thurles Sarsfields saw off the challenge of Mullinahone in the first round of group two of the County Senior Hurling Championship on Sunday evening.

Wearing the number eleven shirt, Stakelum operated in a roving commission and his long-range point-taking steered last year’s beaten finalists to a comfortable win over the South representatives who were eleven points behind at the three quarter stage but who put in a redeeming finish while never threatening to overtake their rivals.

As a contest this game never reached championship intensity. Sarsfields were 0-6 to 0-5 ahead at the end of a first quarter that was something of a shooting match as the attackers were afforded plenty of room to strut their stuff.

The balance tipped heavily in the winners favour then as they hit five unanswered points to go 0-11 to 0-5 clear by the twenty minute mark and from then on there was only going to be one winner.

Stakelum had three points on the board at that stage and he added another three before the break at which stage Sarsfields led 0-18 to 0-11. Mullinahone’s challenge was not helped by poor finishing, ten first half wides a concern for their management facing into the second period.

Martin Kehoe had his third point for Mullinahone immediately on resuming but then Sarsfields reeled off seven points without reply for a 0-25 to 0-12 advantage at the three quarter stage. Game over – not quite as Mullinahone, inspired by a goal from sub Kevin Bolger in the fiftieth minute, mounted a rally of sorts that yielded four points also, two from Eoin O’Dwyer.

Sam Rowan had the ball in the net for a second Mullinahone goal in the 57th minute but the whistle had gone beforehand for a free, which Jack Shelley pointed. That cut the lead to six points but what a goal would have done for Mullinahone is anybody’s guess. Rowan had another effort for a goal saved by Patrick McCormack, the Sars custodian, in injury time before Sarsfields closed off the issue with late points from Liam McCormack and a Conor Stakelum free.

After an indifferent county league campaign, and surrendering their Mid title in their first outing, Thurles Sarsfields will be glad to have registered their first win. Their faltering finish will require addressing though it has to be acknowledged that the introduction of subs at that stage upset the team’s momentum. The win puts them on the front foot as regards qualification from the group for the knockout stages with neighbours Moycarkey-Borris next up, a potential banana skin for The Blues.

Conor Stakelum’s first half showing was his best in the blue jersey as he popped up everywhere, helping out in defence as well as giving a master-class in point-taking.

Encouraging for Sarsfields was the fact that they had eleven scorers with Eoin Purcell (3), Seanie Butler (2) and Aidan McCormack notching two from play in his eight point tally, most notable. Denis Maher and James Armstrong also figured prominently but an injury to Darragh Stakelum will be a concern.

Mullinahone now face Roscrea in their second round game with a win imperative if they are to stay in championship contention. In immediate need of attention is their failure to turn opportunities into scores, lapses that the better senior sides will always punish.

Eoin Kelly was never tested in goal with Martin Kehoe, Sean Curran, Darragh Linnane, Eanna Ryan, Jack Shelley and Eoin O’Dwyer doing their utmost to turn the tide in their favour. Their strong finish will give them encouragement as they go forward but they have some work to do if they are to avoid getting caught up in a relegation struggle.

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

Thurles Sarsfields: Patrick McCormack (7); Paul Maher (6), Denis Maher (0-1, 7), Stephen Maher (0-1, 6); James Armstrong (0-1, 7), Ronan Maher (0-2f, 6), Cian Stakelum (6); Stephen Cahill (0-1, 6), Cathal Moloney (6); Seanie Butler (0-2, 6), Conor Stakelum (0-8, 1f, 9), Aidan McCormack (0-8, 6f, 8); Eoin Purcell (0-3, 7), Mossie McCormack (6), Darragh Stakelum (0-1, 6).

Subs: David Corbett (6) for D Stakelum (38); Jack Lanigan (6) for M McCormack (43); Liam McCormack (0-1, 6) for A McCormack (50); Michael Purcell (6) for Moloney (53).

CJ Kickhams, Mullinahone: Eoin Kelly (6); Darragh Linnane (0-1, 7), Paul Curran (6), Colin Shelley (6); Eanna Ryan (0-2, 7), Eoin Fennelly (6), Martin Kehoe (0-3, 7); Daire O’Brien (6), Sean Curran (0-3, 7); Enda Keane (6), Jack Shelley (0-4, 2f, 7), Eoin O’Dwyer (0-2, 7); Sam Rowan (0-1, 6), Michael Dunne (0-3f, 6), Danny Dunne (6).

Subs: Kevin Bolger (1-0, 6) for Keane (HT); Conor O’Brien (6) for D Dunne (44); Rian O’Halloran (6) for M Dunne (50).

Referee: Conor Doyle (Silvermines).