SHL Division 1: Sarfields overcome slow start to see off St Finbarr's

St Finbarr’s 2-13

Sarsfields 2-25

Sarsfields overcame the concession of two early goals to pick up their second win of the RedFM Hurling Division 1 campaign, beating St Finbarr’s in Togher on Thursday evening.

The holders of the competition, who had lost two of their three games before this encounter at Neenan Park, rallied to lead by 1-12 to 2-6 at half-time and, benefiting from having greater experience in their ranks than their hosts, pushed on well in the second half to win comfortably.

However, they gave themselves a hurdle to overcome as the scoreboard after seven minutes read 2-0 to 0-2 in favour of what was an under-strength Barrs side. While Aaron Myers had had the game’s opening score for Sars, the Barrs responded as Conor McCarthy’s crossfield pass to Jack O’Kelly allowed him to offload to Adam Buckley, who finished well.

After a good James Sweeney point for Sars – who also had to suffer the loss of Paul Leopold in the game’s nascent stages –ac the home side struck again. Once more, O’Kelly was involved as he pounced on a loose ball and fed the onrushing James Kennefick – a late addition following an injury to Thomas Egan in the warm-up – and he jinked through the defence before firing past Ben Graham.

While O’Kelly sent over a point soon after, it took until the 20th minute for the Barrs’ second white flag, from impressive centre-back Ciarán Doolan. In the interim, Sars found their feet, with Luke Elliott prominent at right half-forward. After Sars wing-back Bryan Murphy landed his second point, well set-up by Cian Darcy, to leave a point in it, 2-3 to 0-8, the visitors got their first goal.

Colm McCarthy, industrious throughout, was allowed to carry the ball in from the left wing before firing an unsaveable shot to the top corner and the Riverstown club were in a lead that would never be ceded.

While their three-point half-time advantage was eaten into with a pair of Sam Cunningham frees for the Barrs on the resumption, Bryan Murphy and Colm McCarthy replied for Sars. It was 1-15 to 2-9 after Aaron Myers’ fourth free of the game for them and they moved six clear as a flowing move involving Colm McCarthy and Sweeney was ended with the ever-energetic Darcy applying the finish to the net.

With goalkeeper Ben Graham sending over two big frees in the wake of that – he finished with three in all – Sars began to pull away well in the closing stages.

Elliott had his third before an excellent individual score from Darcy, who linked well with Killian Murphy as the latter showed that his absence for all of 2024 has not limited his effectiveness.

Subs Callum Austin and Cillian McCarthy were also on target, as was corner-back Donal English, as Sars got seven of the last nine points to finish 12 points ahead by the end of the encounter.

Scorers for St Finbarr’s: S Cunningham 0-6 (0-5 f), J Kennefick 1-1, A Buckley 1-0, C O’Connor, C McCarthy 0-2 each, J O’Kelly, C Doolan 0-1 each.

Sarsfields: A Myers 0-5 (0-4 f), Colm McCarthy 1-2, C Darcy 1-1, B Graham (0-3 f), L Elliott, B Murphy, J Sweeney 0-3 each, D English, C Austin, C Leahy, Cillian McCarthy, S O’Regan 0-1 each.

ST FINBARR’S: S Hurley; E Keane, J Burns, S Kennedy; C Crowley, C Doolan, C Steele; A Barry, J Kennefick; C O’Connor, S Cunningham, B O’Connell; C McCarthy, J O’Kelly, A Buckley.

Subs: L Hannigan for Steele (45), J Millard for Buckley (48), D Murray for O’Kelly (50), J O’Brien for O’Connell (57).

SARSFIELDS: B Graham; D English, K Crowley, C Roche; B Murphy, C Leahy, P Leopold; C Darcy, K Murphy; L Elliott, S O’Regan, J Sweeney; Colm McCarthy, A Myers, B Nodwell.

Subs: J Leahy for Leopold (13, injured), Cillian McCarthy for O’Regan (46), C English for Crowley (52), C Austin for Elliott (54), K Walsh for K Murpy (55), R O’Brien for Nodwell (57), S King for Darcy (59), S Bracken for Colm McCarthy (60).

Referee: S Stokes (Tullylease).