Premier 1 MHC: Sars keep qualification hopes alive following comfortable win over Inniscarra

Sarsfields: 3-15 

Inniscarra: 0-10 

Sarsfields have reignited their season after defeating Inniscarra in the Rebel Óg Premier 1 Minor Hurling Championship at Sallybrook on Wednesday evening.

This was a massive game in section 2 after both teams suffered defeats in their first group games. Sarsfields were full of intent, inspired by Cork U20 hurler Barry O’Flynn. Inniscarra were below their best most notably in the first 30 minutes as their chances of making the top two are now over.

Ray Ryan, brother of Cork senior hurling boss Pat, is at the helm of this energetic Sarsfields team and his side rose to the occasion with a superb team performance. The Imokilly side were in the ascendancy from the off as they were aided by the wind in the first half. They built up a lead that they weren't going to relinquish. They led by nine points at half-time.

Sarsfields were boosted by a goal after just 18 seconds when O’Flynn set up Callum Austin and the latter made no mistake. A pair of Darragh O’Brien frees was an excellent response from Inniscarra but the home team kept their noses in front after the opening quarter after hitting four unanswered points. The accurate Adam Dunlea with three frees and an O’Flynn effort, 1-5 to 0-2.

Inniscarra would land three of the next four points with Jack O’Mahony raising a white flag and playing a role in other scores. Sarsfields would finish the first half stronger however as they rattled off 1-4 without a response. The green flag coming from the penalty spot after 26 minutes as Dunlea finished with aplomb after Austin was fouled in the square, 2-9 to 0-5.

Inniscarra were largely reliant on frees as O’Brien converted another one as they had a mountain to climb as they trailed 2-9 to 0-6 at the interval.

Inniscarra certainly didn’t wilt and helped by wind advantage, they got the first score through an O’Brien free. They had chances to eat into the lead but wayward shooting was their downfall at this juncture. The sides traded points as Sarsfields halted whatever momentum Inniscarra had. Ryan’s troops would hit two of the next three points to hold a comfortable 2-12 to 0-9 advantage with eleven minutes remaining.

Inniscarra were reduced to 14 players after 50 minutes when Alan Heelan received a straight red card for an off the ball incident. A minute later Sarsfields got their third goal when Rory McCarthy finished well, 3-12 to 0-9.

The winners would land three of the last four points with Sarsfields' subs Zack Herlihy (free) and Danny McCarthy getting eye-catching scores.

The Riverstown-based club will meet Midleton in the final group game in two weeks with everything on the line.

Scorers for Sarsfields: A Dunlea 1-5 (0-5 f, 1-0 pen), R McCarthy, C Austin 1-1 each, B O’Flynn 0-3, D O’Donovan 0-2, H Cogan, Z Herlihy (f), D McCarthy 0-1 each.

Inniscarra: D O’Brien 0-5 f, S Murphy 0-2, C Dineen, J O’Mahony, C Lyons 0-1 each.

SARSFIELDS: J Austin; B Galvin, C Quirke, J Tierney; R Higgins, J Huggins, J McMahon; S Bracken, C Condon; A Dunlea, H Cogan, R McCarthy; D O’Donovan, C Austin, B O’Flynn.

Subs: R Barry for B Galvin (44), Z Herlihy for R McCarthy, D McCarthy for H Cogan, L Hogan for S Bracken (all 55), D Ryan for R Higgins (58).

INNISCARRA: B Gleeson; C O’Sullivan, C O’Herlihy, R Murphy; D Linehan, D Enright, A Heelan; C Dineen, N Buckley; D O’Brien, J O’Mahony, J Shine; D Holland, S Murphy, C Lyons.

Subs: C Costello for D Holland, S O’Sullivan for C Lyons (both 44), D O’Connor for S Murphy (53, inj), C Gould for D Linehan (57), D Murray for J O’Mahony (61).

Referee: Brian Sweeney (Shamrocks).