Sarsfields celebrate return to Tipperary senior football championship in style

Thurles Sarsfields 2-12 Ballyporeen 0-6

After an almost seventy-year exile, Thurles Sarsfields marked their return to senior football championship action with an emphatic win over Ballyporeen in Round 1 of Group 2 of the FBD Insurance County Senior Championship at Dundrum .

Sarsfields’ last senior appearance was a defeat by Loughmore/Castleiney in the 1957 Mid final but success in last year’s county Intermediate championship, following hot on the heels of their earlier county Junior triumph, reinstated them in Senior ranks and they celebrated their return in style with a twelve-points win over Ballyporeen.

This group also includes JK Brackens and Kilsheelan and qualifying from it for the knockout stages of the championship will not be easy but this win is a significant statement of intent by Sarsfields, and the manner in which it was achieved gives great cause for optimism.

To put it in perspective, though, Ballyporeen have been in relegation territory in recent years, and given the ineffectiveness of their attack in this encounter, they have a fight on their hands again this year to avoid the drop. Five points from play, including a two-pointer, is simply not good enough to compete seriously at this level, and while they enjoyed a fair share of possession during the hour, their over-working of the ball near goal was their undoing.

Credit, though, to Sarsfields' intense workrate, which forced several turnovers and if they can maintain this level of performance in upcoming games they will be a tough nut to crack. Ronan O’Brien gave them the ideal start with a two-point kick after four minutes. Liam McCormack followed with a pointed free and two Conor Sweeney points for Ballyporeen, one from a free, had Sarsfields ahead 0-3 to 0-2 after sixteen minutes, with Ballyporeen very much in the frame.

Sarsfields, however, were much more direct in their approach and this paid off in the 19th minute when Kieran Costello, who had a capital game for Sarsfields, finished off a move started by Liam McCormack and Matthew Kelly with a well-taken goal.

Daire Lyons responded for Ballyporeen but Sarsfields’ tails were up, and further points from Liam McCormack and Matthew Kelly preceded a Liam McCormack goal on the stroke of half-time, after good work by Paddy Creedon and Michael Cahill. An interval lead of 2-5 to 0-3 had Sarsfields in a strong position at the interval but a Ballyporeen response was expected in the second half.

It never materialised. Sarsfields hit five unanswered points in the third quarter for a 2-11 to 0-3 lead, which put the game beyond the reach of the under-performing Ballyporeen boys. Points from Daire Brennan and Christy English late on made little difference and English was also just wide with a goal effort. Paddy Creedon rounded off a good night for Sarsfields with his second point in injury time.

This was a big result for Sarsfields, who looked very comfortable in the grade. The good work of Peter Creedon, Declan Costello, Pat Bracken and Tony Smith in recent years is paying dividends, and they will make a serious bid to reach the knockout stages from this group. Kieran Costello, the team captain, led by example with Michael Cahill, Henry Fogarty, Paddy Creedon, Ronan O’Brien and Liam McCormack all having big games. It was a most encouraging start to life in senior ranks but tougher challenges lie ahead.

Ballyporeen have some work to do if they are to avoid being caught up in relegation trouble. They had plenty of possession but continuous re-cycling of the ball when in shooting range cost them scores and led to costly turnovers. They could not be faulted for commitment but their lack of a cutting edge needs addressing. Former All-Star county star Conor Sweeney was kept on a tight rein by Sarsfields. Jack Kearney, Darragh Lyons, Charlie English and Eoin Morrissey did most to tip the scales in their favour.

Sarsfields scorers: L McCormack (1-3,2fs), K Costello (1-2,2ptr), R O’Brien (0-3,1 2ptr), P Creedon (0-2), M Kelly, C Hayes (0-1 each).

Ballyporeen scorers: C Sweeney (0-2,1f), D Brennan (0-2,2ptr), D Lyons, C English (0-1 each).

Sarsfields: Lorcan Cummins; Conor Fogarty, Cathal Hayes, Conor Stapleton; Patrick Stakelum, Michael Cahill, Henry Fogarty; Kieran Costello, James Armstrong; Matthew Kelly, Paddy Creedon, Ronan O’Brien; Kevin Bracken, Liam McCormack, Harry Fitzgibbon.

Subs: Ruairi Dwan for Bracken (47 mins), Aidan Ryan for Kelly (52 mins).

Ballyporeen: Kieran Macken; John Ryan, Rian O’Callaghan, Oisin Brennan; Eoin Morrissey, Mikey Maher, Jack Kearney; James Barry, Daire Brennan; Darragh Lyons, Tommy Sweeney, Kevin O’Mahoney; Conor Sweeney, Tomas Vaughan, Sam McGrath.

Subs: Oisin Power for T Sweeney (39 mins), Anthony Crotty for Lyons (54 mins).

Referee: Seanie Peters, Galtee Rovers.