Éire Óg 0-20 Sarsfields 2-9

A POWERFUL performance from Éire Óg saw them take the points in this opening group game in this Cork IHC clash in Ballygarvan on Sunday.

Powerful performances from Dylan Desmond in goal and their backline, allied to impressive scoring from Kevin Hallissey, Eoin O’Shea, Colm O’Callaghan and Lar Considine set them on their way. 

However, but their victory would have much more comfortable if they hadn’t hit 18 wides, against a Sarsfields side that that only scored 1-1 from play.

Ben Graham pointed from both a 65 and a line ball as Sarsfields started well, but points from Ciaran Sheehan, Hallissey and O’Shea had the sides level after 12 minutes. O’Shea put Éire Óg ahead but they were rocked in the 18th minute when Aidan Hackett goaled for Sarsfields.

O’Shea and O’Callaghan pushed Éire Óg ahead again, but when Graham goaled from a free after he was fouled, Sarsfields led 2-3 to 0-7 after 24 minutes. Graham and Cormac Duggan had points for Sarsfields, but similar scores from O’Callaghan, Considine and Hallissey saw the sides level 2-5 to 0-11 at the interval.

O’Callaghan and a brace from Hallissey saw the winners open a three-point lead by the 38th minute, but three Graham points from placed balls had the sides level again after 45 minutes.

The impressive O’Shea hit a brace to push Éire Óg two points ahead, but a monster free from Gary Gray left only a point between the sides after 50 minutes.

But that was close as Sarsfields were to get as they didn’t score again. Points from impressive sub Joe Cooper and his brother John, Hallissey and newcomer Considine put the seal on a good win for the Ovens side.

Yet they will know that their shooting will have to improve if they are to have a say in the latter stages of this competition.

Scorers for Éire Óg: K Hallissey 0-6 (0-2 f), E O’Shea 0-5 (0-3 f, 0-1 65), C O’Callaghan 0-3, L Considine 0-3, C Sheehan, John Cooper, Joe Cooper 0-1 each.

Sarsfields: B Graham 1-7 (1-3 f, 0-3 65, 1 sl), A Hackett 1-0, C Duggan 0-1, G Gray 0-1 f.

ÉIRE ÓG: D Desmond; J Mullins, D O’Herlihy, C McGoldrick; D Dineen, John Cooper, B Corcoran; E O’Shea, R O’Toole; C O’Callaghan, K Hallissey, C Sheehan; B Hurley, D Goulding, L Considine. 

Sub: Joe Cooper for B Hurley (45).

SARSFIELDS: C Looney; N Fitzpatrick, E Gaffney, K Walsh; K Crowley, G Gray, D Barry; D Kenneally, T Og Murphy; B Graham, A Hackett, T Murphy; C Duggan, K Murphy, J O’Leary. 

Subs: P O’Driscoll for A Hackett (40), S O’Driscoll for T Murphy (40).

Referee: Eamon Sheehy (Newcestown).