Heroic Thurles Sarsfields claim an immense win with 13 players in Mid Championship quarter

Doran Oil Mid Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Quarter-Final

Thurles Sarsfields 1-16

Boherlahan Dualla 2-11

By Michael Dundon

Thirteen-man Sarsfields battled heroically against the odds to see off the challenge of Boherlahan Dualla in an exciting  Doran Oil Mid premier intermediate hurling quarter final at Gortnahoe on Friday evening.

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Sarsfields were not happy with referee Joe Leahy’s decisions to red card Kieran Costello after 25 minutes and Rory Purcell after 37 minutes, but they set their disappointment aside to dig in for a victory that gives them a semi-final spot against Gortnahoe Glengoole.

In balmy summer conditions, Sarsfields set the pace from the start with Liam McCormack finishing to the net off a Kieran Costello delivery in the second minute. Boherlahan absorbed the setback, swinging over three points from James Kirby, Tomas Ryan, and Brian Óg O’Dwyer to regain parity by the sixth minute as the encounter livened.

Both sides were guilty of some wayward shooting, but Rory Purcell’s point helped Sarsfields to a 1-5 to 0-5 lead by the water break. 

They extended it further with a Seanie Butler point on resuming, but Boherlahan were denied a certain goal when Kevin Bracken in the Thurles goal foiled Seamus Leahy’s effort after 23 minutes.

 In the 25th minute, Kieran Costello was red-carded for a challenge on Boherlahan’s Niall O’Dwyer, but Boherlahan failed to take advantage of the numerical advantage, Sarsfields finishing the half with Liam McCormack and Rory Purcell points for a 1-10 to 0-5 lead.

Clearly, Boherlahan, who were short a few regulars, needed to raise their game in the second half, and the odds tipped heavily in their favour when Sarsfields had Rory Purcell red-carded after 37 minutes.  

James  Kirby boosted their challenge when deflecting an attempted Sarsfields clearance to the Thurles net a minute later, but Sarsfields still stood firm.

At the second water break, Sarsfields break led 1-12 to 1-7, Jack Lanigan pointing two frees to Tomas Ryan’s one for Boherlahan, but after the resumption, saw the Boherlahan charge. 

Charlie Ryan, Seamus Leahy, Gerard O’Dwyer, and Brian Óg O'Dwyer hit points to reduce the deficit to two points with five minutes to play. 

Momentum was with Boherlahan, who looked on course for a win, but resolute Sarsfield defending kept them at bay, and in counter-attacks, the Thurles lads hit unanswered points by Seanie Butler, Jack Derby, and Cillian Minogue for a five-point lead on the hour.

Boherlahan were not done yet, and in injury time Tomas Ryan netted for them, sparking a hectic finish as Boherlahan chased a winning goal, but time ran out on them, and Sarsfields were through to the semi-final.

Sarsfields’ reaction to adversity was admirable as they battled to cope with the loss of two players, their defence standing up resolutely under heavy pressure. 

This, allied to their ability to pick off a score, carried the day for them. Jack O'Mara, Jack Derby, Seanie Butler, Liam McCormack, Henry Fogarty, and Cillian Minogue, when introduced, had big games, but all around, they were all excellent. The downside to the win is the loss of the two red-carded players for the semi-final.

Boherlahan Dualla now look to the county championship for their next competitive action. Their cause here was not helped by some key absentees, and when they reflect on a two-point loss, the point chances spurned during the game are something they will rue. 

They did not fully capitalise on their numerical advantage, always a tricky situation for team management, but lessons will be learned from this encounter and addressed, which should stand them in good stead later on. Brian Óg O'Dwyer was their top performer, but James Kirby, Gerard O'Dwyer, Tomas Bourke, and Charlie Ryan also did their bit.

Thurles Sarsfields: Kevin Bracken; Paul Noonan, Jack O’Mara, Kieran Moloney; Henry Fogarty, Tommy Maher (0-2), Jack Derby (0-1); Daniel Rossiter, Michael Purcell; Kieran Costello (0-1), Seanie Butler (0-2, 0-1f), Rory Purcell (0-2); Liam McCormack (1-1), Jack Lanigan (0-4, 0-3f), Michael O’Brien (0-2).

Subs used: Cillian Minogue (0-1) for O’Brien; Mossie McCormack for M Purcell; Aidan Ryan for Lanigan; Conor Lanigan for Butler.

Boherlahan Dualla: Tomas Breen; Charlie Ryan (0-1), Tomas Bourke, Johnny Ryan; Dylan Fogarty, Gerard O’Dwyer (0-1), Niall O’Dwyer; Cathal Darcy, Martin Paul O’Dwyer; Tomas Ryan (1-3, 0-3f), Brian Óg O’Dwyer (0-3), Patrick Gahan; Mark Downey (0-1), James Kirby (1-1), Seamus Leahy (0-1).

Subs used: Ryne Bargary for N O’Dwyer; Darragh Hickey for Kirby; Brian Carrig for M P O'Dwyer.

Referee: Joe Leahy (Moyne Templetuohy)

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