RedFM Hurling League: Sarsfields mark return home with win over Kanturk
Sarsfields' Bryan Murphy goes high to claim possession against Kanturk in Sunday's RedFM Hurling League game at Riverstown. Picture: David Kean
Reigning RedFM Hurling League champions Sarsfields marked their return to competitive action on home ground with victory over Kanturk on Sunday morning.
The club’s Riverstown grounds – newly renamed Páirc Tadhg Mac Cárthaigh – had been badly affected by the floods of October 2023 but the pitch was in immaculate condition for the first outing and the hosts enjoyed a routine victory to move into a four-way tie at the top of the Division 1 table.
Buoyed by the availability of Cork panellists Cathal McCarthy, Daniel Hogan and Jack O’Connor – in contrast to visitors Kanturk, who were without Cork footballers Tommy Walsh and Paul Walsh, among others – Sars got on top early and a six-point half-time lead was augmented with an unanswered 2-2 on the resumption.
While a Colin Walsh point for Kanturk opened the scoring, Sars owned the early stages. They had moved 0-3 to 0-1 in front by the time the first goal came in the sixth minute, with Luke Elliott doing well to force a turnover and then laying off to James Sweeney, who finished well to the net.
Elliott, chiefly known as a wing-back, has been operating in the half-forward line recently and he further underlined his attacking credentials as he scored the second goal a minute later – Colm McCarthy won the Kanturk puckout and fed Daniel Hogan, who linked up with Cian Darcy before the latter played Elliott in.
That made it 2-3 to 0-1 and by the break, Elliott would have 1-2 to his name but the lead would be reduced slightly.
For much of the first half, Kanturk were forced to maximise efficiency from limited opportunity – when centre-back Brian O’Sullivan sent over a free on 21 minutes, it left it 2-7 to 0-7 with Sars having had seven wides to Kanturk’s zero.
However, even before that, they had give notice of a goal threat as Alan Walsh set up Rory Sheahan, who was only denied by a great Craig Leahy block.
A goal did arrive for the visitors on 24 minutes, and it was timely as they had fallen 2-10 to 0-7 behind by then. Alan Walsh was involved again, crashing a shot off the crossbar after good work by Dan O’Donoghue and James Fitzpatrick, with Rory Sheahan on hand to prod the loose ball home.
While a good Daniel Hogan point was Sars’ response, three from Kanturk – a Sheahan free and one each from Alan Walsh and Colin Walsh – had them within four coming up to half-time. A Colm McCarthy free and Cian Darcy’s third sent Sars in leading by 2-13 to 1-10.
The lead was extended with points from Cillian Roche and Ben Nodwell and then Nodwell’s pass allowed O’Connor to find the net. Not long after, Roche’s run was the catalyst for Sweeney to score his second goal, 4-16 to 1-11.
Kanturk’s cause suffered further with a red card for Alan Walsh following retaliation after he had been fouled and Sars made the increase in manpower count as they eased clear in the closing stages. A fifth goal arrived in the 53rd minute as Nodwell’s shot drew a good save from Grantis Bucinskas and Colm McCarthy prodded home the loose ball to give him a final tally of 1-7 while Sars had 19 points to spare at the end.
Colm McCarthy 1-7 (0-5 f), J Sweeney 2-1, L Elliott, J O’Connor 1-2 each, D Hogan 0-4, C Darcy 0-3, C Roche, K Murphy, B Nodwell, S McNamara 0-1 each.
R Sheahan 1-2 (0-2 f), B O’Sullivan 0-5 (0-3 f, 0-2 65), C Walsh 0-4, A Walsh 0-2, D O’Connell, L McLoughlin, G Kenehan 0-1 each.
D McCarthy; D English, K Crowley, Cathal McCarthy; B Murphy, C Leahy, C Roche; C Darcy, K Murphy; L Elliott, D Hogan, J Sweeney; J O’Connor, B Nodwell, Colm McCarthy.
A Myers for Elliott, D Long for K Murphy (both 46), S McNamara for Darcy (51).
G Bucinskas; J McLoughlin, M Healy, C Sheahan; D O’Connell, B O’Sullivan, L McLoughlin; L O’Neill, B Healy; D O’Donoghue, C Walsh, J Fitzpatrick; G Kenehan, A Walsh, R Sheahan.
C McAllister (Aghada).
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