Three reasons why Imokilly are county champions again

FIRST-HALF DISPLAY:
While it might sound strange to say that going in at half-time trailing by six points was a good thing, the strength of the wind was such that one could say Imokilly managed quite well in the first half.

Sars’ wides tally was greater than they would have liked and they were unable to engineer any goal opportunities before half-time. Imokilly could certainly have played better in the opening period but the key thing was they stayed in touch and they upped it in the second half.

Brian Lawton operated as a sweeper and came in for special praise from Denis Ring.

"I don’t think I’ve ever come across a player at any level, and I’m not saying this lightly, with the hurling brain of Brian Lawton," he said.

"I think he is exceptional, he’s very reassuring on the ball, he always seems to have time on the ball."

GOAL TIMING:

The aim for Sars at half-time would have been to stay in front for as long as possible and to make Imokilly chase the game and became more frantic, but fewer than three minutes had elapsed when Adam Murphy’s strike halved the six-point deficit.

Credit must go to Bill Cooper for pressing Daniel Kearney deep in Sars territory and then, when Murphy got the ball, he made no mistake with a rasping shot to the top corner. Even though they still trailed by three, it turned the momentum their way.

STRONG FINISH:

It says much about the quality present within the division of Imokilly that they could make a ten-point sequence – against the county champions, in the county final – look so straightforward.

Throughout the game – against the wind and with it – Jack Leahy’s free-taking was outstanding and he was to the fore in this period, aided by Shane Hegarty, Séamus Harnedy, Seán Desmond and subs Barry Lawton and Mike Kelly.