Sarsfields win but fall agonisingly short to drop out of the championship on score difference

FBD Insurance Senior Hurling Championship - Group 2 - Round 3

Thurles Sarsfields 0-25

Cashel King Cormacs 1-19

By Michael Dundon

A three-point win over Cashel King Cormacs at Holycross on Saturday was not enough to maintain Thurles Sarsfields' challenge for the FBD Insurance Senior Hurling Championship as they lost out on scoring difference to Cashel and Nenagh Eire Og, who qualify for the knock-out stages from group 2.

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Although Sarsfields, Cashel and Nenagh finished the round-robin series with two wins each, Sarsfields needed to defeat Cashel by four points to go through on scoring difference. 

They came up just short, all the more galling for them because of their 16 wides. Basically, they had every chance to win but did not make the most of them.

Despite their first loss in the group, the cheer that greeted the final whistle reflected how much this success meant to the West boys. This was a big day for them. 

They rose to the challenge and did just about enough to get over the line in a fine contest that ebbed and flowed throughout, with each side enjoying their spells of superiority.

Sarsfields made most of the running. With a large attendance and an expectant buzz about the place, this was real championship hurling. 

Mistakes were made by both sides in a lively encounter, but Sarsfield's wayward shooting in the first half in particular, was their undoing. They were off target on 12 occasions in the period to Cashel’s eight, and in a contest of fine margins, that made the difference.

A tricky, mainly cross-field breeze was a problem for forwards. Sarsfields went 0-3 to 0-1 ahead after four minutes. By the tenth minute, Cashel were 0-4 to 0-3 in front and by the 17th minute, Sarsfields were again leading 0-8 to 0-4. 

It was edge-of-the-seat stuff that had the attendance in full voice. The crucial score of the half came in the last minute when Eoghan Connolly blasted home a penalty after defender Kieran O'Dwyer was fouled. That levelled the game at 1-7 to 0-10, and it was very much all to play for facing into the second half.

In that competitive first half Sarsfields had seven different scorers, Conor Stakelum’s two from play from defence most notable. Four Cashel players scored. Apart from the penalty, the only real goal chance came close to half-time when Cashel’s Aaron Browne denied Liam McCormack a green flag.

Though Cathal Quinn had the first point of the second half for Cashel, Sarsfields had a great third quarter, climaxed by five unanswered points from Darragh Stakelum, Eoin Purcell, Stephen Cahill, and Conor Stakelum (2) to go 0-18 to 1-10 clear. Just when it seemed Sars were heading for their target, Cashel fought back with heart, points from Ross Bonnar, Devon Ryan and Ger Browne cutting the lead to 2 points with 10 minutes to play.

Again, Sarsfield surged clear, points from Darragh Stakelum (2) and Conor Stakelum once more giving them the necessary winning margin, but Cashel were by no means capitulating. 

They reeled off points from Eoghan Connolly (2), Ross Bonnar, and Devon Ryan to trail by one point as the hour mark approached. Sars goalie Patrick McCormack denied Adrian Cummins a likely goal with a brave save as the excitement reached fever pitch.

Sars finished strongly, Darragh Stakelum pointed two frees, but another, sandwiched between those two, which would have given them the four-point winning margin they needed, drifted wide of the posts. Cashel fans showed their delight at the final whistle while Sarsfields' heads were bowed, their campaign for 2025 at an end.

Celebrating a defeat is a rare thing, but Cashel has every reason to be happy. Their progress from the premier intermediate grade to the top flight continues apace, and the boost that the defeat of the Thurles outfit will give should stand to them big time as they face the business end of the campaign. 

They are in the last eight on merit, and it will be onwards and upwards from here. On a day when leaders were called for, Eoghan Connolly stood tall for Cashel, ably abetted by Ger Browne, Devon Ryan, Ronan Connolly, Cathal Quinn, Paddy Fahey and Kieran O'Dwyer.

This was Sarsfields' best display of a disappointing year, dogged by injury to key players. However, their usual slick point-taking deserted them. Only once did they threaten a goal, and they can have no complaint about the outcome. 

They had their chances but did not take them. Stephen Maher had a fine game in defence with Conor Stakelum, Denis Maher, and Ronan Maher also to the fore. Further upfield, things were not as smooth with Eoin Purcell the biggest threat and Paddy Creedon also working hard.

Scorers: Thurles Sarsfields: Darragh Stakelum (0-9, 0-7f), Conor Stakelum (0-5, 0-3f), Eoin Purcell 0-4, Ronan Maher, Billy McCarthy 0-2 each, Liam McCormack, Paddy Creedon, Stephen Cahill 0-1 each.

Cashel King Cormacs: Eoghan Connolly (1-4, 1-0 pen, 0-2f), Devon Ryan (0-5, 0-4f), Ger Browne 0-3, Cathal Quinn, Ronan Connolly, Ross Bonnar all 0-2 each, Oisin O’Donoghue 0-1.

Thurles Sarsfields: Patrick McCormack; Stephen Maher, Denis Maher, Paul Maher; Ciaran Costello, Conor Stakelum, Ronan Maher; Stephen Cahill, Cathal Moloney; Michael Cahill, Darragh Stakelum, Billy McCarthy; Liam McCormack, Paddy Creedon, Eoin Purcell.

Subs used: Keith Loughnane for M Cahill (38); Seanie Butler for McCarthy (44); Robbie Stapleton for L McCormack (47); Tommy Maher for Moloney (58).

Cashel King Cormacs: Aaron Browne; Conn Bonnar, Nathan Ryan, Kieran O’Dwyer; James Cummins, Ronan Connolly, Conor O'Dwyer; Cathal Quinn, Eoghan Connolly; Devon Ryan, Ger Browne, Paddy Fahey; Ross Bonnar, Oisin O’Donoghue, David McGrath.

Subs used: Adrian Cummins for McGrath (45).

Referee: Philip Keane (St Patrick’s)

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