Moycarkey Borris on a roll as they down Mid kingpins Thurles Sarsfields to book final date

Centenary Agri Mid Senior Hurling Championship semi-final

Moycarkey Borris 3-17

Thurles Sarsfields 0-22

By Michael Dundon

Moycarkey Borris claimed another major scalp with a four-point win over Thurles Sarsfields in the Centenary Agri Mid Tipp senior hurling semi-final at Boherlahan on Wednesday evening.

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Having seen off Loughmore Castleiney in the quarter final three days earlier, the Moycarkey boys showed this was no flash in the pan with a “trap to line” win over  Sarsfields for a spot in the decider on Sunday against JK Brackens.

Without a Mid senior championship since 1982, the form so far in this campaign suggests that Moycarkey will make a serious bid for the title, although they would be very foolish to underestimate the challenge that will be posed by J K Brackens, who will be seeking a second triumph.

Sarsfields were forewarned of Moycarkey’s potential by their quarter-final win, but it was Moycarkey who still dominated an under-performing Thurles side. Moycarkey had the hunger and the energy to win the hard battles and opened with three points without reply from Kieran Morris (two frees) and Kieran  Cummins, who was a dominant figure in the first half. 

Losing free-taker Aidan McCormack after ten minutes did not help the Thurles cause, but, thanks to Conor Stakelum’s free-taking mainly, they were hanging in as Moycarkey finally got the reward their superiority merited with Kieran Cummins’ goal after 28 minutes following good work by Rory Darmody.

At the break, Moycarkey led 1-9 to 0-10 and, after Paddy Creedon had a Sarsfields point with the first play of the second half, Bill Flanagan had Moycarkey fans cheering with a goal off a Joe Egan assist, followed immediately by a Ciaran Morris point for a 2-11 to 0-11 lead.

The gauntlet was thrown down in earnest, and to their credit, Sarsfields responded to the challenge. Conor Stakelum’s free-taking was still their main source of scores, and after 57 minutes, they were just one point behind(2-16 to 0-21) and poised to at least send the game to extra time. Two chances to level were spurned and then punished by Moycarkey, who, in a counter-attack, had a Joe Maher goal to seal their win.

The Moycarkey fans' delight at the result was unbridled. Their optimism about the final is justified and can be realised if they maintain their appetite for the fray. It will be their third game in a week, but when you’re winning games, you take that in your stride. In this encounter, they had big games from Tom Ryan, Eoghan Hayes, Kieran Cummins, Bill Flanagan, while subs Jack Fallon and Max Hackett made a telling impact.

Sarsfields open their county campaign next week with a clash with Nenagh Éire Og, and they will have to show much greater intensity than this if they are to get through their group. Ronan Maher carried an injury into the game, and the loss of Aidan McCormack also upset them. Their focus is on the bigger prize, of course, this setback may be the wake-up call they need. Stephen Cahill was their best player, with Paul Maher, Darragh Stakelum, Conor Stakelum, Paddy Creedon, and Liam McCormack also doing their bit.

Moycarkey Borris: Rhys Shelly; Kevin Hayes, Peter Melbourne, Tom Ryan; Tom Hayes, Eoghan Hayes, Kyle Shelly; Kieran Cummins (1-2), Rory Darmody (0-1); Joe Maher (1-1), Joe Egan (0-1), David Costigan (0-1); Jack Hayes, Kieran Morris (0-6f), Bill Flanagan (1-2).

Subs used: Jack Fallon (0-2) for Darmody (40); Max Hackett (0-1) for Morris (45).

Thurles Sarsfields: Patrick McCormack; Harry Fitzgibbon, Denis Maher, Paul Maher; Henry Fogarty, Ronan Maher, Stephen Maher (0-1); Stephen Cahill (0-3), Cian Stakelum; Darragh Stakelum, Conor Stakelum (0-12, 0-11f), Eoin Purcell (0-1); Aidan McCormack (0-1f), Paddy Creedon (0-3), Robbie Stapleton.

Subs used: Liam McCormack (0-1) for A McCormack (10); Tommy Doyle for Stapleton (35); Cathal Moloney for Fogarty (40); Michael Cahill for Cian Stakelum (45); Keith Loughnane for S Maher (50).

Referee: Sean Everard (Moyne Templetuohy)

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