Premier SHC: Aaron Myers fires winner as Sarsfields' title defence stays on track
Sarsfields' Colm McCarthy gets away from Conor Lehane to clear his lines in the Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC semi-final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Picture: Dan Linehan
Aaron Myers was the Sarsfields hero as his 63rd-minute point gave them victory over Midleton in Sunday’s Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC semi-final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
After Conor Lehane’s 13th point of the day had tied the match, a repeat of last year’s decider, at 0-21 each, seemingly pointing the way towards extra time, there was time for another Sars attack. Sub Ben Nodwell rose high to catch Donnacha McCarthy’s puckout and laid off to Jack O’Connor, who in turn set up for Myers for his third point of the day.
When Midleton’s delivery towards the Sars goal in the hope of a late leveller was repelled, the ball fell to Sars' Colm McCarthy and it was fitting he had it at the end after a tidy overall display at midfield.
However, it was not all plain sailing for the champions, who will now face Imokilly. Having begun well, they were second-best to Midleton for the latter part of the first half and had to battle back to gain supremacy. That they did so pointed to confidence and composure in what is still quite a young team, albeit sprinkled with valuable experience.
In last year’s decider, Sars had not led until the 51st minute but this was a different story as Daniel Hogan and Myers had them in an early lead and it was 0-5 to 0-1 following Hogan’s beauty from the right sideline in the tenth minute.
Despite having the wind – easterly, unusually – Midleton struggled to find any fluency in the opening stages but, after good Craig Leahy defending on Patrick White led to a 65 for the Magpies, Conor Lehane converted and then added another. It did take until the 20th minute for a second Midleton player to get on the scoresheet – David Cremin, from a nice Mikey Finn pass – but that reduced the gap to just a point, 0-7 to 0-6.
Though Cian Darcy replied to put Sars two in front, Sars’ wides tally was beginning to increase, with Midleton beginning to find a groove. Between the 23rd and 28th minutes, they had six unanswered points, Lehane with the pick of them from way out on the left to level at 0-8 each while goalkeeper Brion Saunderson, after dealing with a tricky ball, picked out Ross O’Regan to make it 0-10 to 0-8. Further points from Eoin Moloney and Lehane – his eighth – had them 0-12 to 0-8 in front as half-time approached, though Daniel Kearney did end Sars’ drought in injury time.
While O’Regan and Lehane did keep Midleton in front early in the second half, Sars were beginning to build up a head of steam. James Sweeney gave notice of them upping things a gear when he drew a good save from Saunderson after being set up by Shane O’Regan while wing-back Luke Elliott landed his third long-range point of the day to leave them one behind, 0-14 to 0-13.
Seán O’Meara’s pass allowed Patrick White to respond for Midleton but the momentum was with Sars and Hogan’s sixth point was followed by an assist for Sweeney to level at 0-15 each with 18 minutes of normal time left.
When Sars’ other wing-back Bryan Murphy showed the same outside shooting prowess as Elliott and Aaron Myers got his second, they were two in front and Hogan made it 0-18 to 0-15 as Midleton went ten minutes without a score. Two Lehane frees settled them but Daniel Kearney had his second and then Jack O’Connor got on the scoresheet with a beauty, 0-20 to 0-17 with six left.
Still Midleton refused to wilt; wing-back Sam Quirke provided the pass for his brother Alex to point, Lehane got his 11th and then sub Cormac Beausang marked his introduction to level at 0-20 each on 57.
A cheap foul on Sars midfielder Cian Darcy, compounded by dissent, allowed Hogan to fire over his eighth and put Sars back in front as the clock moved into the red but Lehane, having been off-target from deep inside his own half just beforehand, converted to tie the game again.
Myers would have the final say, though.
D Hogan 0-8 (0-6 f, 0-1 65), L Elliott, A Myers 0-3 each, D Kearney, J Sweeney 0-2 each, C Darcy, S O’Regan, J O’Connor, B Murphy 0-1 each.
C Lehane 0-13 (0-7 f, 0-2 65), R O’Regan 0-2, A Quirke, E Moloney, L O’Farrell, P White, D Cremin, C Beausang 0-1 each.
D McCarthy; P Leopold, C Leahy, C O’Sullivan; B Murphy, E Murphy, L Elliott; C Darcy, Colm McCarthy; A Myers, J O’Connor, D Kearney; S O’Regan, J Sweeney, D Hogan.
Cathal McCarthy for Kearney (47-50), Cathal McCarthy for Kearney (56), B Nodwell for O’Regan (59).
B Saunderson; C Smyth, L Dineen, S Smyth; E Moloney, T O’Connell, S Quirke; M Finn, S O’Meara; R O’Regan, A Quirkes, C Lehane; D Cremin, L O’Farrell, P White.
P Haughney for Finn, C Beausang for White (both 46).
C O’Regan (Ballyhea).
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