Sars ease past disappointing Drom

GAA: FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Championship Quarter Final

Thurles Sarsfields 0-24

Drom & Inch 1-12

Report: Michael Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium

Nobody saw this coming. Tipped as the top quarter-final of the week-end, the clash of Thurles Sarsfields and Drom & Inch on Sunday was hugely disappointing, as the Thurles lads coasted through to the semi-final by an unflattering nine points margin.

The rivalry between these sides has always been keen in recent years but there was little evidence of it here. Drom simply failed to turn up, their lack of energy and purpose far removed from their usual competitive selves. In the circumstances, Sarsfields moved through to the last four with an ease they never expected and without having to play to anything like their potential.

Drom’s off-key performance is difficult to fathom but Sarsfields slickness and ability to pick off their scores had this game put to bed after twenty minutes. By then the Thurles lads were 0-12 to 0-4 ahead, and exploiting the open spaces of the stadium against a Drom side that was uncharacteristically loose. There was little championship intensity to be seen and expectations that things would heat up after the interval with a Drom bid to redeem themselves were unfounded.

That said, Sarsfields opening had to be admired. Stephen Cahill, operating at centre half-forward, was on fire with three points from play in the first nine minutes. By the 20th minute, Sarsfields were 0-12 to 0-4 clear and had eight players on the score sheet, Aidan McCormack notching three points, two from play. From a variety of angles, Sarsfields were popping over points and they reached the half-way stage with an advantage of 0-15 to 0-8.

In a prolific six-minute spell between the 13th & 19th minutes, Sarsfields whipped over six points in rapid succession with no reply from Drom.

Their dominance was not being challenged. Nor was there any suggestion that the Drom boys could change things around, so off-colour were they.

A seven-point deficit in hurling is by no means reversable and the expectation was that Drom would raise their game on resuming but this did not happen. Sarsfields continued to call the shots as the low-key affair drew to its conclusion. Seamie Callanan and Jamie Moloney had goal chances for Drom minutes from the end which were denied by a timely interception by Denis Maher and by a fine save from Patrick McCormack.

Drom & Inch did get a goal from Tony Cahill after 59 minutes too late to make any difference and it was Conor Stakelum who fired over the last score of the game, a Sarsfields point from a free to set them up for a semi-final clash with Mid rivals Loughmore-Castleiney.

After the disappointment of their loss to Kiladangan in the round-robin series, Thurles Sarsfields have been making steady progress and now that they are at the business end of the championship, they will be hard to beat. Their experience at this stage of the campaign is critical and the range of their scoring options makes them a difficult side to pin down. Eleven players scored and the only damper on the evening’s work was the lack of a goal, or indeed the real threat of a goal.

Stephen Cahill was named Man of the Match, a deserved award for a particularly impressive first half in which he scored four points from play. Ronan Maher and Denis Maher were imperious at the heart of the defence while Cathal Moloney’s grafting, and the tenacity of Paul Maher in defence, also contributed significantly to this success while veteran goalie Patrick McCormack was a reliable as ever. An injury to Seanie Butler early on will be a concern as they prepare for the semi-final.

To say Drom & Inch players and management were disappointed with this performance is an understatement. They never got going at all and before they realised it the game was out of their reach. No question about it, Drom are far better than they showed here but sadly for them, this defeat is the end of the road for 2023 and they have much to ponder over in the off-season. Few of their players were at their best. Pauric Campion, Robbie Long, Kevin Hassett, Jamie Moloney and Fintan Purcell tried their utmost to stem the tide while goalie Eoin Collins’ clean sheet speaks for itself.

Player of the Match: Stephen Cahill (Thurles Sarsfields)

Thurles Sarsfields: Patrick McCormack (7); Paul Maher (7), Denis Maher (0-1, 7), Stephen Maher (0-1, 6); James Armstrong (6), Ronan Maher (0-2, 1f, 7), Michael Purcell (6); Conor Stakelum (0-4, 2f, 6), Cathal Moloney (0-1, 6); Billy McCarthy (0-1, 6), Stephen Cahill (0-5, 9), Aidan McCormack (0-6, 4f, 7); Darragh Stakelum (0-1, 6), Seanie Butler (0-1, 6), Eoin Purcell (6).

Subs: Tommy Doyle (0-1, 6) for Butler (23 inj), Conor Lanigan (6) for E Purcell (45); Paddy Creedon (6) for A McCormack (52); David Corbett (6) for Moloney (54); Cian Stakelum (NR) for McCarthy (57).

Drom & Inch: Eoin Collins (6); Kevin Hassett (7), Lorcan Campion (6), Emmett Moloney (6); Fintan Purcell (0-1, 6), Pauric Campion (0-1, 7), Stephen Nolan (6); Robbie Long (0-2, 7), Maidhc Fitzpatrick (6); John Campion (0-1, 6), Johnny Ryan (6), Jamie Moloney (6); Seamus Callanan (0-5, 3f, 7), David Collins (0-1, 6), Tommy Nolan (6).

Subs: Tony Cahill (1-0, 6) for Fitzpatrick (36); Jack Lillis (0-1, 6) for Ryan (36); Mikey Connors (6) for Purcell (43).

Referee: Michael Kennedy (Newcastle).