Late penalty sees Clonoulty through as Sars exit
Clonoulty-Rossmore 1-18
Thurles Sarsfields 1-16
Report: Michael Dundon in Holycross
Clonoulty-Rossmore’s dramatic season continues to gather momentum.
On Sunday they ousted Thurles Sarsfields in the preliminary quarter-final of the County Senior Hurling Championship courtesy of a disputed penalty goal in injury time by Stephen Ferncombe and then, a man down following Ronan Heffernan’s second yellow card, survived the late Sarsfields onslaught which followed.
It was a hectic and frantic finish to a game which never reached the expected heights but it is a result which should really focus Clonoulty-Rossmore minds on task ahead as an eventful year for them, following the tragic passing of team captain Dillon Quirke, draws to a conclusion.
While neither side will be happy with their performance, it is the result that matters, and in this regard Clonoulty-Rossmore go into the last eight draw buoyed by the confidence that this victory will generate and a self-belief that this could be their year.
This game could have gone either way and while Sarsfields were very unhappy with the penalty decision which ultimately determined the result, they contributed to their own downfall by an over indulgence in passing near goal with three good green-flag chances spurned. In so finely balanced a contest, they paid the inevitable penalty.
Clonoulty/Rossmore too had their lapses and know improvement will be required to make further progress. Having failed to qualify from group one in the round-robin series they relied on their West final success to keep them in the championship and have been duly rewarded for the attention they paid to the divisional competition. Fortune may have favoured them on Sunday, but they were in a position to benefit from it and continue their journey.
It was a modest opening half lacking real championship intensity. Sarsfields brisk opening gave them a 0-4 to 0-1 advantage after six minutes, but then Clonoulty took charge, outpointing their rivals eight to one over the next fifteen minutes to go 0-9 to 0-5 clear, with Cathal Bourke and Danny Slattery particularly impressive.
Sarsfields, for whom Aidan McCormack was their key man in an ineffective attack, rallied before the interval but at the break it was Clonoulty who held the advantage 0-10 to 0-8. Still very much anybody’s game, the contest needed the injection of a goal to really ignite it, and it came within seconds of resuming when Paddy Creedon fired home from close range for Sarsfields, quickly followed by a David Corbett point to put Thurles 1-10 to 0-10 ahead.
Further points from Seanie Butler and an Aidan McCormack free to Stephen Ferncombe’s riposte for Clonoulty had Sarsfields in the driving seat 1-12 to 0-11 after 34 minutes.
Then came a second huge surge from Clonoulty, driven by the very impressive Cathal Bourke, as they outpointed Sarsfields seven to one over the next fifteen minutes to lead 0-18 to 1-13 with ten minutes to play.
Sarsfields responded – Aidan McCormack’s brace of points levelling by the 59th minute. Then came the disputed penalty when Tommy Ryan was fouled, referee Peter Carroll signalling a penalty after consultation with his umpires. Stephen Ferncombe made no mistake to put Clonoulty a goal ahead with time on their side. Ronan
Ronan Heffernan was side-lined a minute later following a second yellow card when he hauled down David Corbett as he bore down on the Clonoulty goal. Aidan McCormack pointed the free. Another Sarsfields free by Paul Maher was lobbed into the Clonoulty goal area in search of a winning goal but the winners were equal to the challenge, scrambling the ball to safety and relieved to hear the final whistle.
Clonoulty/Rossmore were justly rewarded for their bravery and their spirit in a testing situation with Cathal Bourke their key man in attack. Their defence, however, never gave the Sarsfields attack an inch with Enda Heffernan, James Ryan, and Ciaran Quirke starring while Michael Ryan, and Danny Slattery were others to contribute significantly to the win.
It was a disappointing conclusion to a Thurles Sarsfields campaign bedevilled by injuries which deprived them of key players such as county men Padraic and Ronan Maher and Michael Cahill. Ronan made a late entry in attack as they pursued a levelling goal but to no avail. David Corbett was their top performer with Stephen Cahill, Jack Derby, Aidan McCormack, Conor Stakelum and Seanie Butler also prominent.
Player of the Match: Cathal Bourke (Clonoulty/Rossmore)
Clonoulty/Rossmore: Martin Sadlier (6); Ronan Heffernan (6), Enda Heffernan (7), James Ryan (7); Sean O’Connor (6), John O’Keeffe (6), Ciaran Quirke (0-1, 7); Michael Ryan (0-1, 7), Jimmy Maher (6); Aaron Ryan (6), Cathal Bourke (0-5, 2f, 9), Danny Slattery (0-2, 7); Tommy Ryan (6), Stephen Ferncombe (1-2, 1-0 pen, 7), Jack Ryan (0-7f, 7).
Subs: Thomas Butler (6) for Maher (29); Paidi Whyte (6) for A Ryan (49).
Thurles Sarsfields: Patrick McCormack (7); Paul Maher (6), Seosamh Ryan (6), Cathal Moloney (6); David Corbett (0-1, 8), James Armstrong (0-1, 6), Jack Derby (7); Conor Stakelum (0-1, 7), Stephen Cahill (0-1, 7); Seanie Butler (0-2, 7), Billy McCarthy (0-1, 6), Aidan McCormack (0-8, 4f, 7); Pa Bourke (0-1, 6), Denis Maher (6), Paddy Creedon (1-0, 6).
Subs: Darragh Stakelum (6) for Butler (43); Ronan Maher (6) for Bourke (51).
Referee: Peter Carroll (Burgess).