Results

Sarsfields win in thriller

Sarsfileds 2-12
Sons of Boru 1-14

Following an entertaining hour of football at Balboa Stadium last Wednesday evening Sarsfields came out on top by the narrowest of margins. This was by far the best game of football in the Senior championship to date despite the slippery conditions. Shane Kenny had the opening point of the game for Sarsfields. The Boru were second to the breaking ball throughout the first half as Sarsfields adjusted better to the conditions. Eugene McGrath had the sides level with a well taken point after 5 mins. Shane Coyle restored the lead for Sars with a point which was followed by a clever goal from Seamus McCorry who took a quick free and lobbed Tim Looney in the Boru goal. Points from John McVeigh and Shane Connolly pushed Sarsfields into an early lead. Joe O’Reilly then kick started the Boru offense with a point from distance. Brother Brian then popped up for a great point after good work from Mick Cunningham. After 20 mins the score read 1-4 to 0-3 in favor of Sars. Colman Daly was operating well at center forward for Sars and he provided Seamus McCorry with his first point of the match. Paul Murnaghan added another after a foul on Daly before Eugene McGrath put another on the board for the Boru. The half time score was Sarsfields 1-6 and the Boru 0-04.
The expected second half onslaught from the Boru did not take long to begin as half back Kevin O’Sullivan came up the filed to show his forwards how to score a point. Mick Cunningham got the message and added a point of his own. There was only two between the sides at this stage. But back came Sarsfields again with McCorry (0-1) and Paul Murnaghan (0-2). T.J. O’Sullivan replied with a goal after a mini ping pong game in the Sarsfields rearguard as he blasted the ball home from close range. With three points between the sides the Boru struck back with points from Cunningham, Craig Leahy and Paul Galvin to level the macth. As the game entered the final quarter John McVeigh came into his own at center back and scored a great individual point. Sars sub Ciaran Fahey, on for the injured Kevin Murnaghan put Sars two points ahead with a great point. The Boru falied to buckle as time ticked away as Cunningham, McGrath and two points from Joe O’Reilly put Boru ahead by two points. Sarsfields looked dead and buried and squandered a number of chances before Sarsfields halfback Sean Hanray scored an absolute beauty from 40 yards out that sailed through the Boru posts to leave just one point between the sides. Paul Murnaghan scored the game wining goal with only two minutes on the clock to put his side ahead by two points. Boru did have one last chance at scoring a win but Brian Reilly sent the ball sailing over the bar for a point to leave the Sars winners by one point. Sarsfields half back and Carlow Town native Cathal Keegan (who later ended up corner back) was most deserving of the man of the match for his excellent performance throughout the game.

Team and Scorers:
Sarsfields: John McCaul, Ken Fagan, Colm Brazil, Cathal Keegan, John McVeigh (0-2), Shane Hanway (0-1), Sahne Kenny (0-1), Kevin Murnaghan, Shane Connolly (0-1), Colman Daly, Sahne Coyle (0-1), Paul Murnaghan (1-3), Seamus McCorry (1-2) Subs: Ciaran Fahey (0-1),
Sons of Boru: Timmy Looney, Mick Kenny, Sean Shannon, Donal O’Sullivan, Kevin O’Sullivan (0-1), Andy Fogarty, Brian Reilly (0-2), Eugene McGrath (0-3), Mick Cunningham (0-3), T.J. O’Sullivan (1-0), Kevin O’Reilly, Joe O’Reilly (0-3), Mick Collins. Subs: Greg Leahy (0-1) and Paul Galvin (0-1).

Referee:Daire O'Connor