Roscrea head into relegation with third straight loss

A third defeat on the trot sees Roscrea embroiled in the relegation struggle in the County Senior Hurling Championship as they slumped to a sixteen point loss to Thurles Sarsfields in round three of group three on Sunday.

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Group 2 Round 3

Thurles Sarsfields 2-27

Roscrea 1-14

Report: Michael Dundon at Pairc Shilean, Templemore

Pre-match predictions suggested that Sarsfields, last year’s beaten finalists, would win, and so it transpired though the margin of victory does an injustice to Roscrea.

Roscrea had no answer to the slick movement of the winners, who, after a low-key start to the year, seem to be coming into form at the right time with the business end of the championship now about to begin.

Sarsfields unbeaten round-robin programme was virtually sealed inside the first quarter. They reeled off points from all angles and distances with Aidan McCormack leading the way with some delightful scores from play and frees, eight in the first twenty minutes, as they established a 0-11 to 0-3 lead.

Roscrea were on the back foot, struggling to make an impression on a solid Sarsfields defence in which Denis Maher was to the fore. At half-time Sarsfields were 0-16 to 0-7 clear and barring a miracle, Roscrea’s fate was sealed.

The picture got bleaker for at the start of the second half with Sarsfields extending their advantage to 0-20 to 0-8.

It was 0-23 to 0-10 before Roscrea got the goal, they needed to give them heart. Shane Dooley raised the green flag, having earlier seen a pile-driver hit the woodwork after 42 minutes.

Points from Alan Tynan and Shane Dooley followed quickly and by the 55th minute they had the margin down to eight points, 1-14 to 0-25, though there was never the prospect of them catching their rivals.

The real killer came in the 57th minute when Aidan McCormack set up Paddy Creedon for a Sarsfields goal, followed two minutes later by another from Jack Lanigan after Liam McCormack did the spadework.

Thurles Sarsfields face into the quarter-finals in improving shape. They had failed to win a game in the County League and were eliminated from the Mid championship at the quarter-final stage but now, with the return of some absentees, and the grooming of some younger replacements, they are making steady progress and will be a side to be reckoned with when the destination of honours is being decided.

Aidan McCormack’s first half showing was impeccable. An injury earlier in the year hampered his movement but now restored to full fitness, he is back to his best, a huge plus for Sarsfields. Denis & Ronan Maher at the heart of the defence dominated with corner back Stephen Maher chipping in with two points from play. Further up-field, Stephen Cahill was another back to his best while Mossie McCormack and Conor Stakelum also had fine games. All Sarsfields forwards scored as eleven of their squad got on the scoresheet, an impressive statistic going forward.

Roscrea have a battle on their hands to retain their senior status. Conceding 29 scores underlines defensive difficulties and while they had nine scorers, and picked off some very sweet points, overall, they will have to improve considerably on their form in the round-robin series if they are to avoid a drop in grade just two years after joining the upper echelons.

Conor Sheedy was the best in their defence with Darragh Tynan and Dan Ryan also doing their bit. Alan Tynan did his best to rally his team mates with Shane Fletcher, and Sam Dooley, when introduced, also impressing.

Player of the Match: Aidan McCormack (Thurles Sarsfields).

Thurles Sarsfields: Patrick McCormack (6); Paul Maher (6), Denis Maher (7), Stephen Maher (0-2, 7); James Armstrong (6), Ronan Maher (0-1f, 7), Cian Stakelum (6); Stephen Cahill (0-2, 7), Cathal Moloney (6); Jack Lanigan (1-1, 6), Conor Stakelum (0-2, 6), Aidan McCormack (0-12, 7f, 9); Eoin Purcell (0-2, 6), Mossie McCormack (0-2, 6), Darragh Stakelum (0-2, 6).

Subs: Paddy Creedon (1-0, 6) for D Stakelum (HT); Seanie Butler (6) for Cahill (43); Liam McCormack (0-1, 6) for McCormack (46); David Corbett for Moloney (50); Michael Purcell (6) for Cian Stakelum (54).

Roscrea: Enda Moloney (6); Luke Seacy (6), Shane Davis (6), Darren O’Connor (6); Daniel Ryan (7), Darragh Tynan (0-1, 7), Conor Sheedy (0-2, 7); Owen Tynan (6), Shane Fletcher (0-2, 6); Alan Tynan (0-3, 7), Kenny Lee (0-1, 6), Evan Fitzpatrick (0-1, 6); Shane Fletcher (0-2, 7), Conor Dooley (0-1, 6), Luke Cashin (6).

Subs: Aidan Booth (6) for O Tynan (35); Sam Dooley (1-1, 7) for Dooley (39); Leigh Loughnane (6) for Booth (43).

Referee: Ciaran O’Donovan (Burgess).