Sarsfields finish strong to book Mid U21A Final date with Holycross Ballycahill

Donal & Rose Young Mid U21A Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Thurles Sarsfields 0-19

Upperchurch Drombane 0-17

By Michael Dundon

Thurles Sarsfields had to dig deep to get over the line against Upperchurch Drombane in a well-contested Donal and Rose Young Mid U21A hurling semi-final at Drombane on Saturday. They will meet old rivals Holycross Ballycahill in the final.

There was little between these sides all the way. The crucial difference was that Sarsfields scored off a much higher percentage of their chances than did the home side who registered eleven wides to Sarsfields’ five. In such a tight contest, this was what separated the sides at the finish.

With an impressive win over Drom & Inch in the earlier round, Upperchurch-Drombane were not lacking confidence as they faced up to the fancied Thurles boys, and while Sarsfields were never led, and made the running all the way, Upperchurch had them in their sights to the finish and, had they made better use of a couple of goal chances in the closing minutes, they might well have gone through to the final.

In ideal conditions, the sides were locked together at 0-3 each after ten minutes. By the twentieth minute, with Darragh Stakelum and Keith Loughnane showing up well for Sarsfields, and Pat Ryan’s free-taking Upperchurch’s main source of scores, Sarsfields were 0-8 to 0-6 clear. 

A strong finish by the winners yielded points from  Robbie Stapleton, Liam McCormack, and Keith Loughnane for an interval lead of 0-10 to 0-6, a shade flattering on the run of play but nothing that Upperchuirch could not cope with in the second half.

The opening eleven. minutes of the second half was Upperchurch’s best spell as they ran up five points per Pat Ryan (3), Paddy Phelan, and Riain Treacy to Darragh Stakelum’s sole reply for Sarsfields, to tie the game at 0-11 each. 

The Church were on top and had momentum and looked poised to push on for victory but Sarsfields settled with a Darragh Stakelum point to which Pat Ryan replied for Upperchurch.

Upperchurch goalie Padraig Griffin made a fine save to deny Jock Fogarty a Thurles goal at the three-quarters stage but four unanswered points for Sarsfields through Keith Loughnane, Darragh Stakelum, Aidan Stakelum, and Darragh Minogue tipped the scales heavily in Sarsfields’ favour (0-19 to 0-14) with six minutes to play.

Upperchurch were not done yet though. Pat Ryan pointed two frees and handed another in injury time and it took last-ditch defending by the Thurles lads to deny Upperchurch the goal they needed and threatened in a hectic finish.

With a win over JK Brackens in the opening round and this semi-final success now, Sarsfields are primed for another crack at their great rivals at this level, Holycross Ballycahill in the final. 

Holycross have had the better of these contests in recent times but there is a lot of talent in this Thurles group and they certainly have the incentive for the supreme effort against the Abbeysiders.

Darragh Stakelum was an inspirational figure for the winners with Keith Loughnane, Aidan Stakelum, Jack O’Mara, Liam McCormack, and Emmet Fogarty also having big games.

Pat Ryan was Upperchurch Drombane’s main man with his accuracy in placed balls. Paddy Phelan, Sean Ryan, Mikey Griffin, Tomas Ryan, and goalie Padraig Griffin were others to catch the eye.

Thurles Sarsfields: Michael McCormack; Emmet Fogarty, Jack O’Mara, Paul Noonan; Aidan Stakelum (0-2), Tommy Maher, Kieran Purcell; Ciaran Woodlock, Daniel Rossiter; Liam McCormack (0-2), Darragh Stakelum (0-7, 0-4f), Keith Loughnane (0-4); Robbie Stapleton (0-2), Jock Fogarty (0-1), Darragh Minogue (0-1).

Subs used: Urban Nolan for Woodlock; Tristan Kelly for Stapleton, Killian Rafter for Purcell.

Upperchurch Drombane: Padraig Griffin; Joseph Bourke, Mikey Griffin, Michael Quinlan; Oisin Treacy, Luke Shanahan, Darragh Griffin; Toby Corbett, Riain Treacy (0-1); Tomas Ryan, Paddy Phelan (0-1), Jim O’Dwyer; Sean Ryan (0-2), Pat Ryan (0-13, 0-12f), Richard Ryan.

No subs used.

Referee: Joe Leahy (Moyne Templetuohy)