Early Doyle goal sets Sarsfields on course for Premier Intermediate quarter-finals

FBD Insurance Premier Intermediate Hurling Preliminary Quarter-Final

Thurles Sarsfields 1-23

Sean Treacys 0-23

Thurles Sarsfields are safely through to the quarter-finals of the FBD Insurance Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship after holding off Sean Treacys for a three-point victory in Drombane on Saturday afternoon.

Tommy Doyle’s goal after just 31 seconds ultimately proved the difference as Sarsfields’ slicker attack and greater scoring threat saw them prevail, with Jack Lanigan producing a man-of-the-match display and accounting for 0-15 of their 1-23 total.

Sarsfields caused problems from the outset with their movement and cross-field passing, as Pa Bourke, Lanigan and Doyle all made their presence felt. However, Treacys recovered impressively from the concession of the early goal and hit four unanswered points to draw level midway through the opening half.

The Mid champions regained control in the second quarter to lead 1-13 to 0-12 at the break, while Treacys suffered a significant blow when Paddy Carey, who had been hugely influential throughout their championship campaign, was forced off through injury and failed to emerge for the second half.

Treacys responded with the opening two points after the restart, but Sarsfields quickly steadied themselves with three in succession.

They carried a three-point advantage into the final quarter and, with Michael Cahill using all his experience at the heart of a resolute defence, kept Treacys at bay as the West side searched in vain for the goal they needed.

Sarsfields attacked the far end in the opening half, gained possession from the throw-in and fed a long ball down into the left-hand corner where Cillian Minogue won possession.

Instead of laying off to Pa Bourke near the sideline, he opted for a long cross-field ball to the unmarked Tommy Doyle, who raced at the defence before firing a low shot to the corner past Shane Stapleton with just thirty seconds on the clock. It was the start Sarsfields needed and ultimately proved the difference at the end of an enjoyable game.

Treacys hit back through the stick of Paddy Carey from a placed ball before Jack Lanigan put over the first of his fifteen points after Pa Bourke had drawn a free.

Brian Carey was on target following an upfield run to receive an out pass from Larry Collins and Carey was on target again after Sarsfields were penalised for overcarrying in an effort to clear their lines.

That cut the deficit to the minimum before Sars replied in triplicate through Jack Lanigan from a free, Pa Bourke and Liam McCormack to give them a four-point cushion after ten minutes. They were using their cross-field passing to good effect, with Treacys slow to counteract it.

Treacys then hit a purple patch, replying with four points in a three-minute spell. Paddy Carey punished an overcarrying offence, Shane Stapleton found the range from his own 45-metre line and Cillian Kennedy fired over after recycling an attack. Paddy Deegan tied the game for the first and only time with twelve minutes gone.

Sean Treacys then had a big chance to raise a green flag after a long ball from Eoin Sheldon over the top found the unmarked Colm Kennedy, but his shot was saved by Michael McCormack.

Pa Bourke eased Sarsfields back in front at the start of the second quarter before finding Tommy Doyle with a one-handed ground pass to put two between the sides. Paddy Carey and James Butler replied, either side of a Jack Lanigan free, before Lanigan was again on target, this time from open play following a short pass from Bourke.

Sarsfields were always able to hit back and found scores easier to come by through the movement of their forwards. Paddy Carey pulled one back before Bourke, under pressure on the open side, scored his third over the shoulder.

Tommy Doyle and Jack Lanigan pushed the margin out to four, but Carey responded from a placed ball after Sarsfields were blown up for an alleged throw ball.

Lanigan hit his seventh of the half before Christy Egan closed out the scoring with a point on thirty minutes, leaving Sarsfields in front at the short whistle, 1-13 to 0-12.

Treacys were dealt a huge blow when Paddy Carey didn’t emerge for the second half after receiving an injury just before the break. He was replaced by Pat Dawson, who took over the free-taking duties.

James Butler and Cillian Kennedy found the target inside ninety seconds of the restart, but any sign of a recovery was quickly quenched by the Mid champions. They replied with three on the bounce, two from Lanigan and one from Liam McCormack after winning a puck-out.

James Butler got in for his third point when he was first to react to a breaking ball following a long-range free from Shane Stapleton.

Scores were traded for most of the remainder of the second half, with Sean Treacys unable to penetrate the strong-tackling Sarsfields defence for the goal they required to push on.

Eventually, they came up three points short in what was their first knockout game at this grade, as Sarsfields advanced to the quarter-finals on a 1-23 to 0-23 scoreline.

Scorers: Thurles Sarsfields: Jack Lanigan (0-15, 0-10f, 0-1 65), Tommy Doyle 1-2, Pa Bourke 0-3, Liam McCormack 0-2, Rory Purcell 0-1.

Sean Treacys: Paddy Carey (0-6, 0-5f), Pat Dawson 0-5f, Paddy Deegan, James Butler 0-3 each, Cillian Kennedy 0-2, Shane Stapleton 0-1f, Christy Egan, Colm Kennedy, Brian Carey all 0-1 each.

Thurles Sarsfields: Michael McCormack; Fionn Fogarty, Kieran Costello, Kieran Moloney; Michael Purcell, Michael Cahill, Seosamh Ryan; David Corbett, Cathal Moloney; Tommy Doyle, Jack Lanigan, Darragh Minogue; Cillian Minogue, Pa Bourke, Liam McCormack.

Subs used: Rory Purcell for C Minogue (47); Conor Lanigan for D Minogue (49); Jack O’Mara for M Purcell (53).

Sean Treacys: Shane Stapleton; Paul Nolan, Sean Hickey, Brian Nolan; Andy O’Brien, Sean Ryan (R), Brian Carey; Paddy Deegan, Eoin Sheldon; Colm Kennedy, Mikey Feehan, James Butler; Cillian Kennedy, Paddy Carey, Larry Collins.

Subs used: Christy Egan for O’Brien (14); Pat Dawson for P Carey (HT, inj); Brendan O’Dwyer for Egan (43); Darragh Carr for Sheldon (55); Jody Ryan (R) for Collins (55).

Referee: Shane O’Neill (St Mary’s)