Sarsfields' Conor O'Sullivan elated after ending nine year drought

SARSFIELDS’ nine year wait for the Seán Óg Murphy cup came to an end in style as the came from behind to defeat Midleton in dramatic fashion. Captain and veteran Conor O’Sullivan, a member of the team the last time they won the title in 2014 was left speechless after the game.

“It’s just unbelievable. Like at half time it looked to be a bit of a beaten docket. We just had an unbelievable second half. I think [Cathal McCarthy] was unreal, as he has been all year,” says Conor. “We’re just so delighted with it now, I don’t know, I’m just stuck for words!

“We've been unlucky some years to not get to a final. We've been eight or nine years outside of it, and we just know it mightn’t come around too often.

Especially as some of us are getting older now, so we just knew we had to make the most of it.

“We knew what our process was, and we knew when things got tough, that was the time to stick to it and pay it off then.

“Oh, it's so sweet. I think so much has changed since we've last won it. We've lost so many people, Teddy [McCarthy] included.

“Other people who mightn’t be as heralded as him, Gearóid Duggan, Dave Fox [McCarthy], Paddy Lambe, Willie Barry, it just means so much to do it for the Sars fellas as well.” 

While Sars wouldn’t have been everyone’s favourite at the start of the season, especially given their unwanted record of failing to turn league wins into championship wins, they were determined to get over the line this year.

“I suppose that's been the case the last few years, we've been excellent in the league and we kind of flattered to deceive a bit then and didn't pull it through in championship, but we just knew what we had to do.

“Johnny [Crowley] and Sully [Diarmuid O’Sullivan], they put great faith in us, and they gave us the responsibility on the pitch to manage it, and I think we did, and it’s paying off now anyway!” 

It was a game that was won on their defensive solidity, and Conor O’Sullivan was quick to credit the backs around him.

“Sully actually said there before the match, the Barrs got a couple of goals against us. But since that, we've only allowed had one shot on goal, I think.

“I think Craig [Leahy] has been unreal in the full backline," says Conor. "Eoghan [Murphy] is doing a great job, as the rest of them are. And Donnacha, for a fella who’s in his first year in goal to not concede for so long like it's a credit to them more than anyone.” Trailing by six points in the second half and the clock winding down, was Conor worried that they might not turn it around?

“Definitely, but we knew we just had to stick to our process. At that time, we did. I know it's a fairly boring answer to be giving all the time, but we just stuck to what we know.

“We came into the game then, and went for them and it got us over the line.”