Clinical Sarsfield have too much for Fr O'Neill's, despite Cork hurler Ger Millerick lining out

Fr O’Neill’s 1-12 Sarsfields 3-21 

ANOTHER top class display from Sarsfields saw them dismantle Fr O’Neill’s in the Red FM Division 1 hurling league at sun-drenched Ballymacoda on Sunday.

In truth, the home side despite being allowed to play Cork Senior hurler Ger Millerick for the opening half looked out of their depth for long periods.

Credit to Sars they played some lovely hurling spraying passes into perfect positions for their forwards to score at will and when you have 11 scorers on the board at the end of the game it proved their total dominance over the hour.

The visitors got off to a good start with Daniel Hogan splitting the posts in the opening minute with Kevin O’Sullivan levelling proceedings with a placed ball three minutes later.

Both sides were playing direct hurling and a second O’Sullivan point tied the game again in the eight minute.

Suddenly Sars took total control and their ability to win dirty ball and then find the free player in space carved Fr O’Neill’s wide open.

James Sweeney who had a topsy turvy league campaign looked far more dominant in this game and with Cian Darcy outstanding at centre field they increased their lead to eight points entering the 25th minute.

One could sense that the east Cork side were struggling to stay the pace and they were punished when Sweeney did well to drill an unstoppable shot to the net following some poor defending.

Kevin O’Sullivan did manage to score a late O’Neill’s point but they looked in trouble at the break when they trailed 1-14 to 0-6.

On the restart Sars increased the tempo again and man of the match Daniel Hogan made a darting run in the 38th minute to drill a low shot to the corner of the net.

Indeed, even the ardent Fr O’Neill’s supporters were surprised in the gulf of class between the sides and when Nodwell added a third goal with 12 minutes Sars had almost emptied their bench.

In fairness the O’Neill’s substitution Conor O’Leary did manage a late goal but looking at their overall performance the Ballymacoda side have plenty of work to do before they face Newcestown in their opening game of the championship.

Scorers for Fr O’Neill’s: K O’Sullivan 0-8 (0-5 f), C O’Leary 1-2, P Hassett, J Millerick 0-1 each.

Sarsfields: D Hogan 1-6 (0-2 f), J Sweeney 1-3, B Nodwell 1-2, C Darcy 0-3, D Long, D Kearney, C Roche, L Healy, A Hackett, D O’Mahony, S O’Regan 0-1 each.

FR O’NEILL'S: P O’Sullivan; M Millerick, E Motherway, D O’Neill; Ger Millerick, M O’Keeffe, C O’Connor; Joe Millerick, P McMahon; J Hankard, K O’Sullivan, P Hassett; C Broderick, B Dunne, Johnny Millerick.

Subs: J Barry for E Motherway (20), C O’Leary for G Millerick (h-t), R Cullinane for D O’Neill (35), C Swayne for B Dunne (45), M Wall for P Hassett (46), W Abernethy for J Millerick (50), S Wall for C O’Connor (54).

SARSFIELDS: D McCarthy; C O’Sullivan, C Leahy, K Walsh; K Crowley, C Roche, E Murphy; C Darcy, D English; J Sweeney, D Hogan, D Kearney; L Healy, D Long, B Nodwell.

Subs: S O’Regan for L Healy (h-t) E O’Sullivan for D Kearney (36), A Hackett for D English (40), D O’Mahony for E Murphy (49), T O’Leary for B Nodwell (50), J Darcy for K Walsh (50).

Referee: Eoin Coleman (Youghal).