Treacys face relegation battle as Sars progress

GAA: FBD Insurance County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 2

Thurles Sarsfields 0-19

Seán Treacys 1-13

Report: Thomas Conway in Nenagh

On another day it might have required all sorts of mathematical wizardry to work out the permutations in Group 2 of the Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship.

But in the end it was relatively straightforward. Thurles Sarsfields made it easy, as did Carrick Swans, who topped the group with five points following a comprehensive victory over Éire-Óg Annacarty. Thurles, with four points, finished second, cementing their passage to the knockout stages and crushing the aspirations of a nifty Seán Treacys outfit which might, in different circumstances, have swiped a result from this game.

In reality it was a tight-knit, physical battle, a game Thurles which seemed to win comfortably in the end, despite the margin of victory amounting to just three points. Granted, Patrick’s Dawson late Treacys goal was effectively the final action of this encounter. It was a consolation score, if such a thing exists. Treacys are now thrown into a relegation battle, and it will require more than consolation scores to escape the trapdoor.

And yet they started so well. Patrick Carey was in blistering form, slotting an early point and looking every bit like a man who believed his side could prevail. Thurles hit back. Mossie McCormack was one of their more impressive performers. He slotted two points, the first of which got Sars up and running just inside the second minute.

And from there things swung and see-sawed their way towards half-time, Carey and Patrick Deegan inflicting much of the damage for Treacys, Tommy Maher and Jack Lanigan mirroring them at the far end for Thurles.

There were, in fairness, some beauty scores, some absolute gems. Maher slotted one from way out on the sideline on the approach to half-time. It was followed by a rousing effort from Treacys centre-back Seán Carey, who bombarded his way through the middle and let fly off the left from 35 metres. Two wonder scores, back to back, inside a minute.

By half-time the two teams had worked their way up to nine points apiece, and things were delicately balanced. Could Treacys hold their discipline and push on in the second? Or would Thurles bring their own version of champagne hurling to Nenagh, as their senior A side have so often done.

In the end it was the latter which materialised. Thurles found another level in that second-half. Michael Cahill was immense, standing like a dictator in centre-back and controlling all that surrounded him. The former Tipp ace produced a consummate performance. In reality he’s at another level, but he’s clearly dedicated himself to this Thurles team and devoted all his efforts into helping them progress.

And progress they did, courtesy of an avalanche of points from Maher, Lanigan, McCormack and co. In fairness, the West club made a valiant effort. Their full-back line was solid, but the damage was being inflicted from out the field.

Darragh Kennedy did whisk over one sublime effort just after half-time, but it marked the beginning of a period of Thurles dominance. Treacys started to concede frees and both Maher and Lanigan punished them - from left, right, and centre. In the 42nd minute, Lanigan hit one effort from play that might just rank as the score of the weekend. He was off balance, on the corner of the 65, being showered by bursting rain, but he still nailed his strike. Straight between the posts, easy as you like.

By the time Patrick Dawson finally grabbed that late consolation goal, the real game was already up. Thurles advance, in impressive fashion. The quest for the senior/premier intermediate double is alive and well.

Player of the Match: Michael Cahill (Thurles Sarsfields)

Thurles Sarsfields: Kevin Bracken (6); Daniel Rossiter (6), David Maher (6), Jack O’Mara (6); Harry Fogarty (6), Micheal Cahill (8), Kieran Moloney (7); Tommy Maher (0-7, 4f, 1 65) 8), Liam McCormack (0-1, 7); Mossie McCormack (0-2, 8), Aidan Ryan (0-2, 8), Jock Fogarty (7); Rory Purcell (6), Jack Lanigan (0-5, 3f, 8), Robbie Stapleton (0-1, 7).

Subs: Michael O’Brien (0-1, 7) for Purcell (39); Aidan Stakelum (7) for J Fogarty (47); Darragh Minogue (6) for Lanigan (53).

Seán Treacys: Shane Stapleton (7); Brian Nolan (6), Seán Hickey (7), Emmet Ryan (6), Christy Egan (6), Seán Ryan (0-1, 7), Tom Hickey (7), Paul Nolan (7), Cillian Kennedy (0-1, 6), Jody Ryan (0-1, 7), Mike Feehan (7), Darragh Kennedy (0-2, 7), Patrick Carey (0-5, 4f, 8), Patrick Deegan (0-3, 8), Brian Carey (6).

Subs: Eoin Sheldon (7) for Egan (49); Patrick Dawson (1-0, 7) for C Kennedy (49); Mattie Feehan (NR) for J Ryan (59); Andy O’Brien (NR) for D Kennedy (60+1).

Referee: Gerry Treacy (Borris-Ileigh).