Sarsfields huff and puff their way to victory over stubborn Mullinahone challenge

FBD Insurance Senior Hurling Championship - Group 2 - Round 2

Thurles Sarsfields 1-23

Mullinahone 2-15

Job done – no more than that! Thurles Sarsfields were under pressure all the way before eventually getting the better of C J KIckhams, Mullinahone in round two of group two of the FBD Insurance county senior hurling championship at Cashel on Saturday.

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Both were first-round losers, Sarsfields to Nenagh, and Mullinahone to Cashel. For both, a win was imperative to keep themselves in the frame for a place in the quarter-finals. For the loser, a relegation battle looms on the horizon.

In the event, Sarsfields will be pleased to have cleared a difficult hurdle, and while the performance may not have been to their expectations, the result is all that matters as they face into their final group game against Cashel King Cormacs with a win again essential to secure a quarter-final spot.

After two defeats, Mullinahone are in trouble. Their final game is against Nenagh Eire Og, and even a win there might not be enough to keep them out of the relegation play-offs, but they will take encouragement from this display, which might have produced a win but for some erratic shooting from play and frees.

Mullinahone lined out without Eamon Ryan, Jack Shelly, and Michael Dunne, and had Eoin Fennelly suspended for this game. 

Their absence was sorely felt, particularly in a contest where tight margins decided the issue. Sarsfields were without Aidan McCormack and Pa Bourke, but have the greater resources to carry such losses.

The opening 18 minutes were close, with the sides each shooting 6 points in a rather tame contest. Paddy Creedon had a goal chance for Sarsfields before Eoin O'Dwyer netted for Mullinahone from a Mikey O Shea delivery in the 22nd minute. That goal was the decisive score of the half, at the end of which the South boys led 1-8 to 0-9.

At the start of the second half, Martin Keogh waltzed through a hesitant Sarsfields defence for Mullinahone’s second goal but they failed to build on that as Sarsfields hit the next 5 points through Darragh Stakelum(3fs), Paddy Creedon and Billy McCarthy to draw level 0-14 to 2-8 after 44 mins.

Sean Curran countered for Mullinahone, but in a three-minute spell, the balance of power changed swiftly. 

Firstly, Billy McCarthy set up Darragh Stakelum for a Sarsfields goal, which was quickly followed by points from Paddy Creedon and Liam McCormack to send Sarsfields 1-16 to 2-9 clear and heading for victory.

Mullinahone were not finished by any means, a brace of Sean Curran points keeping them on the heels of their opponents. 

The closing minutes were tense as Sarsfields fought to keep their advantage in the face of persistent Mullinahone pressure. 

They swapped points, four each, as the hour mark passed, but in injury time, Sarsfields had points from Liam McCormack, Darragh Stakelum, and Eoin Purcell to get them over the line more comfortably than the pattern of the game suggested.

After losing the Mid semi-final to Moycarkey and their opening round of the county championship to Nenagh, Sarsfields will be relieved to record a win, even if the performance was below their best. 

They did their best work in the third quarter, outscoring their opponents 1-7 to 1-1 and that gave them the platform to push on for the win, but they will need to raise the tempo of their game against Cashel in the next round if they are to secure a qualifying spot.

Conor Stakelum was their top performer operating in a defensive role and covering acres of ground. Brother Darragh was energetic all through and the top scorer, and the performances of Paul Maher, Paddy Creedon, Stephen Cahill, Denis Maher, and Ronan Maher were also crucial to the Sarsfields win. An early injury to Harry Fitzgibbon, which forced his withdrawal, will be a concern in the lead-up to round 3.

Mullinahone were not far behind their opponents and were left to rue some wasted chances. They did not carry the same threat in attack as Sarsfields, but the displays of Colin Shelly, Conor Whelan, Sean Curran, and Paul Curran were worthy of note.

Scorers: Thurles Sarsfields: Darragh Stakelum (1-10, 0-10f), Conor Stakelum (0-3, 0-1f), Liam McCormack 0-3, Eoin Purcell, Paddy Creedon 0-2 each, Denis Maher, Stephen Cahill, Billy McCarthy 0-1 each.

Mullinahone: Sean Curran(0-11, 0-7f), Martin Kehoe, Eoin O Dwyer 1-0 each, Mikey O’Shea, Conor Whelan 0-1f, Enda Keane, Sam Rowan 0-1 each.

Thurles Sarsfields: Patrick McCormack; Harry Fitzgibbon, Denis Maher, Paul Maher; Conor Stakelum, Ronan Maher, Ciaran Costello; Stephen Cahill, Seanie Butler; Cian Stakelum, Darragh Stakelum, Paddy Creedon; Eoin Purcell, Billy McCarthy, Liam McCormack.

Subs used: Stephen Maher for Fitzgibbon (27); Keith Loughnane for Butler (36); Tommy Maher for Cian Stakelum (38); Cathal Moloney for Cahill (51); Henry Fogarty for P Maher (53).

Mullinahone: Brendan Kearney; Daire O’Brien, Paul Curran, Colin Shelly; Darragh Linnane, Conor Whelan, Martin Kehoe; Sean Curran, Conor O’Brien; Sam Rowan, Eoin O’Dwyer, Enda Keane; Mikey O’Shea, Alan Curran, Graham Horan.

Subs used: Cillian Direen for Horan (30); Horan for Keane (44); Danny Dunne for O’Dwyer (49), Matthew Direen for Horan (60).

Referee: Alan Tierney (Silvermines)

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