Thurles Sarsfields make winning start to Premier Intermediate hurling campaign
Thurles team keep Carrick Swan at arm’s length in closing stages
Thurles Sarsfields 2-21 Carrick Swan 3-17
Thurles Sarsfields’ second team claimed an opening round win in the County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship at Leahy Park, Cashel on Sunday evening when they withstood a late fightback by Carrick Swan.
Sarsfields, managed by former Tipperary All-Ireland winner Paudie Maher, looked on course for a routine victory when a converted free by leading marksman Jack Lanigan put them eight points clear with eight minutes of normal time remaining.
However, the final 12 minutes, including four additional, were anything but comfortable for the Thurles team as Swan, who had been out of sorts for much of the game, staged a stirring comeback. Following Lanigan’s point, the Carrick team had the next four scores to close the gap to just two points.
There seemed little prospect of a revival when Callum Lanigan was on target from a free. However, Swan served notice that they weren’t a beaten docket when the same player collected an Eric O’Halloran pass and shot low to the net. When Lanigan converted another free, before county player Stefan Tobin was on the mark following an incisive solo run, they trailed by just two points approaching the end of normal time.
Kieran Costello stopped the rot for Sarsfields with a point and another score from a Jack Lanigan free suggested they had the points in the bag. Swan, however, kept pushing to the end although another goal, this time from Callum Lanigan’s free, was no more than a consolation.
Sarsfields will be among the teams fancied to go all the way. They have a nice balance to their side, with several talented players underlining the club’s strength in depth. Jack Lanigan was deadly accurate from play and placed balls, while Cillian Minogue also impressed in attack. It was a game in which Kieran Costello, Cathal Moloney, Liam McCormack, Rory Purcell and their captain, former Tipperary All-Ireland winner Michael Cahill, will look back on with justifiable satisfaction.
Swan, who have lost the last two county finals in this grade, discovered their best form when it was too late, and at a stage when they were chasing the game. The outstanding Callum Lanigan, who finished with an eyecatching tally of 2-10, kept them afloat during their difficult periods. Captain, Aaron Dunne; Aaron O’Halloran, Ryan Waters and Stefan Tobin were also to the fore.
The TJ Connolly-managed Carrick-on-Suir team began with the aid of the strong, fresh breeze that blew towards the dressing room end. They had a dream start when Aaron Dunne embarked upon a mazy run through the Sarsfields defence before sending a shot to the net after just 19 seconds.
Sarsfields opened their account with a free from Jack Lanigan, but further points from Callum Lanigan (free), Taylor Fleming and Eric O’Halloran had Swan 1-3 to 0-1 ahead by the seventh minute.
Sarsfields gained a foothold in the contest with two goals in as many minutes to take the lead.Tommy Doyle made a great catch and advanced before supplying the assist for Cillian Minogue's goal in the ninth minute, and a minute later Philip Hayes made the most of some slack defending by Swan to raise their second green flag.
Callum Lanigan struck the equaliser in the 11th minute, the first of six occasions that the scores were deadlocked in a close first half. Swan suffered a blow when Gavin O’Halloran was forced to retire injured in the 24th minute, and goalie Kieran Lonergan came to their rescue midway through the half when he made a great save from Sarsfields’ Liam McCormack, before Jack Lanigan pointed in the follow-up.
The scores were still tied in first half added time, before late scores from Aaron Dunne and Callum Lanigan’s free ensured that Swan were two ahead at the interval, 1-12 to 2-7.
Boosted by the wind, Sarsfields quickly took control of proceedings in the second half. They had points from Jack Lanigan, David Corbett and Cathal Moloney to regain the lead before Callum Lanigan’s free levelled the scores for the final time.
Swan suffered a barren spell as the Thurles side turned the screw with six points in a row from Jack Lanigan, Cathal Moloney, Jack Lanigan again (one each from play and a free), Cillian Minogue and Lanigan once more.
Stefan Tobin responded with a badly-need score for Swan (their first in nine minutes), as they struggled to stay in touch with their rampant opponents. Sarsfields strengthened their grip on the game with further points from Tommy Doyle, Cillian Minogue and a Jack Lanigan free before Swan roused themselves for that late surge, although they ultimately fell short.
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Thurles Sarsfields: Michael McCormack, Fionn Fogarty, Kieran Costello (0-1), Kieran Moloney, Michael Purcell (0-1), Michael Cahill (captain), Cathal Moloney (0-2), David Corbett (0-1), Tommy Doyle (0-1), Liam McCormack, Philip Hayes (1-0), Rory Purcell, Cillian Minogue (1-3), Bill Fogarty, Jack Lanigan (0-12, 6 frees).
Substitutes: Darragh Minogue for Rory Purcell, Harry Fitzgibbon for Tommy Doyle, Conor Lanigan for Liam McCormack.
Carrick Swan: Kieran Lonergan, Sean Power, Scott Hogan, Dean Kiely, Ben Mulcaire, Gavin O’Halloran, Jack Murphy, Aaron O’Halloran, Ryan Waters, Taylor Fleming (0-1), Callum Lanigan (2-10, 1-8 frees), Eric O’Halloran (0-1), Stefan Tobin (0-3), Aaron Dunne (captain 1-2), Callum Walsh.
Substitutes: Eoin Hogan for Gavin O’Halloran, Sean Foley for Ryan Waters, Jamie Holloway for Eoin Hogan.
Referee: Anthony Owens (Solohead).