Sarsfields v Ballygunner: Where the Cork hurling champions can make a mark in Munster

IN the dying moments of the 2014 Sarsfields-Kilmallock Munster semi-final in Kilmallock, the TG4 cameras flashed to Pat Ryan, the Sars manager.

Ryan looked deflated and devastated as his side were about to exit the championship on the back of an epic contest that went to extra-time. Kilmallock had just snatched victory with late, late points from Paddy O’Loughlin and Graeme Mulcahy, a suitably dramatic conclusion to an enthralling contest.

On balance, Kilmallock just about deserved the win. 

They led by five points with six minutes of normal time remaining and, while Sars reeled them in, Kilmallock got on top again at the end of extra time, hitting three wides in a row before nailing those two winning scores.

Sars were manful and impressive right to the final whistle but it was zero consolation afterwards. 

“There’s huge disappointment,” said Ryan. “I just thought we gave away too many silly goals, we gave away too many opportunities, and they deserved the win on the day. It’s back to the drawing board and to see if we can do it another year.” 

It's taken Sars nine years to get another shot at Munster. Back then, they knew the terrain well, having played in four provincial campaigns in seven seasons.

Of all the Cork champions over the last 14 years, Sars were by far the most competitive in the Munster championship. 

They were twice beaten narrowly by De La Salle — by two points in 2008 when the sides were level 11 times and after extra time in 2010.

The 2010 defeat was especially harrowing as Sars led by two points in additional time when Bryan Phelan missed a late 65, but a Sars player had run across Phelan as he was taking the shot. A free was awarded 13 metres inside the 65, which Phelan converted before Kevin Moran tied up the game in the 63rd minute with a huge score. 

De La Salle went on to win Munster before losing to Clarinbridge in the All-Ireland semi-final with the last puck in extra-time.

In 2012, Sars were undone by a late goal against Thurles Sarsfields in Semple Stadium. After losing again to Kilmallock two years later, it was the fourth time Sars were beaten by the eventual Munster champions.

Although Sars only won one game in Munster (against Clonlara in 2008), they were an ambitious group with hardened experience who were as good as any other team in the province at that time. 

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On the other hand, there was also no outstanding club team in Munster during the outset of that period.

Newtownshandrum were Munster champions in 2009 but that was their last county title, while Ballygunner were trying to re-establish themselves in the province after losing finals in 2005 and 2009, and Thurles Sars spent years trying to crack it.

That opened up a real window of opportunity for emerging or talented sides to stake a real claim in the province. 

De la Salle and Na Piarsaigh did, with both clubs securing two Munster titles during the first five years of the last decade. De la Salle and Piarsaigh were two of seven sides to reach maiden Munster finals between 2007-'14, along with Loughmore-Castleiney, Tulla, Adare, Crusheen and Cratloe. 

Sars were good enough to muscle their way into that group – and win a title - but they just couldn’t negotiate their way past the semi-final barrier along the way.

The biggest difference now though, between Sars’s previous experience in Munster and this time around is that there is a standout team with the potential to dominate the province like no other side has in the past.

When Ballygunner secured successive Munster titles last year, they were the first to do so since St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield managed it in 1998-’99. The last team to do it before them was the great Blackrock side of 1978-’79. Yet Ballygunner are now aiming to become the first side in history to win three in a row.

The only other club in the past that was in a position to achieve that feat was Clare’s Newmarket-on-Fergus, who were the first to win successive Munster club titles, in 1967 and 1968.

They were Clare champions too in 1969 but Newmarket didn’t play in the 1969 Munster club championship until March 1971, when they lost to Glen Rovers.  The Glen subsequently lost the Munster final to Roscrea in April of 1971.

Roscrea had actually played the 1969 Munster quarter-final against Killarney in February 1970, but the final wasn’t played for another 14 months. By that stage, Roscrea had already qualified for the 1971 Munster club final. 

By the time they beat Clarecastle that August, Roscrea had also picked up the 1969 Munster title in the meantime. Roscrea were crowned inaugural All-Ireland club hurling champions that December.

The Munster club championships had been so disjointed in those seasons that the 1971 Munster club was delayed until the early months of 1972.

Blackrock were subsequently forced to play their Munster final (against Moyne-Templetuohy), All-Ireland semi-final (against Tommy Larkins) and All-Ireland final (against Rathnure) within the space of 19 days at the end of April and start of May 1972.

Ballygunner don’t have those headaches that Newmarket-on-Fergus had in their bid to win three Munster titles in a row 54 years ago. They haven’t played in eight weeks but they are so used to managing that layoff now that they view it more of an advantage than a hindrance.

Ballygunner are the team to beat again in Munster, while Sars are looking for a second win in six games in the province. It won’t be easy but Sarsfields’ style of play won’t make it straightforward for Ballygunner. 

And they will also believe that if any Cork team is capable of making a statement in Munster, it’s them.