Stakelum in searing form for Sarsfields in first round victory over Mullinahone

FBD Insurance Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship – Group 3 - Round 1

Thurles Sarsfields 0-29

Mullinahone 1-19

By Michael Dundon

Beaten finalists last year, Thurles Sarsfields got this year’s campaign in group two of the FBD Insurance county senior hurling championship off on the right note with a seven points win over Mullinahone in a contest at Cashel on Sunday evening that never really came to life.

The only representative of the south division in the county senior championship, Mullianhone looked well off the pace as they trailed by thirteen points going into the last quarter (0-25 to 0-12) but a strong finish redeemed a below-par performance by them while never really threatening to overtake their rivals who by then were using their bench.

The big difference between the sides was the ability of the winners to take their scores when chances presented themselves and nobody epitomised this more than county man Conor Stakelum who hit seven points from play in a man-of-the-match first-half performance. 

Sarsfields had eleven scorers which will please their management but a dodgy last quarter when they appeared to lose concentration, will give them food for thought before their next outing against Moycarkey Borris. Mullinahone hit one goal in that period and might have had two more, opportunities which, if executed, would have given the game a much different complexion.

Though it lacked real championship intensity, with a lot of loose marking, there were some fine scores from both sides. 

They shared eight points after ten minutes but then Sarsfields began to turn the screw, outscoring their rivals seven to one to establish a 0-11 to 0-5 lead early in the second quarter. They reached the break with a 0-18 to 0-11 advantage and at that stage looked comfortably on the way to the points.

Sarsfields dominated the third quarter. They shot seven points without reply after Martin Kehoe had had the first point of the half for Mullinahone but with a 0-23 to 0-12 advantage, the Thurles lads took the foot off the pedal. Kevin Bolger’s goal for Mullinahone after 50 minutes was augmented by points from Eoin O’Dwyer (2), Sean Curran, and Eanna Ryan to cut the deficit to six points(0-25 to 1-16).

After Ronan Maher pointed a Sarsfields free, Sam Rowan had the ball in the Thurles net but referee Conor Doyle had blown for a free beforehand. A let-off for Sarsfields, with Jack Shelley pointing the free, and Sean Curran adding another as Mullinahone piled forward. 

Again Ronan Maher pointed for Sarsfields, which Shelley countered, but the game was now in injury time and Sarsfields had the last two points from Liam McCormack and Conor Stakelum to ease them over the line.

After a poor county league campaign and an early exit from the Mid championship, Sarsfields will be glad to have cleared this hurdle and will be hoping to build up momentum as the championship progresses. 

Next up is a clash with neighbours Moycarkey Borris, a challenge that will require a much greater level of intensity from The Bkues if they are to succeed. Conor Stakelum was the star of the show, leading by example with Denis Maher, James Armstrong, Eoin Purcell, and goalkeeper Patrick McCormack others to play major roles in the win.

Mullinahone will take encouragement from their strong finish but their poor shooting will be a concern and needs addressing if they are to stay in the title race. Their next outing is against Roscrea, with both sides needing a result after initial losses. They will need to produce for the hour the quality of hurling they showed in the closing stages here if they are to get the better of the Roscrea contingent. Martin Kehoe, Sean Curran, Darragh Linnane, Jack Shelley, and Eoin O’Dwyer were their top performers in a performance that left lots of room for improvement.

Thurles Sarsfields: Patrick McCormack; Paul Maher, Denis Maher (0-1), Stephen Maher (0-1); James Armstrong (0-1), Ronan Maher (0-2f), Cian Stakelum; Stephen Cahill (0-1), Cathal Moloney; Seanie Butler (0-2), Conor Stakelum (0-8, 0-1f), Aidan McCormack (0-8, 0-6f);  Eoin Purcell (0-3), Mossie McCormack, Darragh Stakelum (0-1).

Subs used: David Corbett for D Stakelum (38); Jack Lanigan for M McCormack (43); Liam McCormack (0-1) for A McCormack (50); Michael Purcell for Moloney (53).

Mullinahone: Eoin Kelly; Darragh Linnane (0-1), Paul Curran, Colin Shelley; Eanna Ryan (0-2), Eoin Fennelly, Martin Kehoe (0-3); Daire O’Brien, Sean Curran (0-3); Enda Keane, Jack Shelley (0-4, 0-2f), Eoin O’Dwyer (0-2); Sam Rowan (0-1), Michael Dunne (0-3f), Danny Dunne.

Subs used: Kevin Bolger (1-0) for Keane (HT); Conor O’Brien for D Dunne (44); Rian O’Halloran for M Dunne (50.

Referee: Conor Doyle (Silvermines)