IAHC: Strength in depth helping Sarsfields' second team in bid for glory

Given the large number of players Sarsfields have at their disposal, it’s perhaps not a surprise to see their second team flying high.

With the Premier Senior team in the semi-final of their own competition tomorrow, the reserve side are in the last four of the Co-Op SuperStores IAHC. They take on Bandon this afternoon in Riverstick (4pm).

Luke Hackett was one of the key players on the first team for a few years, but at the moment, he’s playing away for the second string.

After failing to make it out of their group last year and also in 2023, the Imokilly outfit have made big strides forward in this campaign in the fourth-tier.

“Every team’s goal at the start of the season is just to get out of the group, thankfully we did that,” Hackett says.

“I know it’s a bit of a cliché but just taking every game as it comes and thankfully we did well in our three group games and got straight through to the semi-finals. It has just fallen nicely for us this year.

“I think we’ve just been kind of unlucky the last few years maybe with injuries and stuff, but this year we’ve had a few young fellas come in from last year’s minor team.

“They’ve added a fresh approach to it. We just kind of went on a bit of a roll so we’ll hopefully keep it going.” 

Johnny Crowley is managing both the Premier Senior and Intermediate A teams in Sarsfields this year. While it’s probably more of a workload for the management, it has been the right approach so far.

“Having the same management team over both sides has really helped,” the forward said.

“I suppose even in the first few senior games we didn’t make any subs with the mindsight of helping out the team below.

“The ultimate goal really is to get some of the younger fellas playing senior at some stage. Playing in the Intermediate A grade definitely helps and brings them on massively.

“I’m just happy to be playing for Sarsfields, it doesn’t matter what team it is. That’s the kind of attitude we’re all taking. We just want to go out and win games.” 

While Sarsfields’ second team haven’t played in a month since an impressive win over Aghabullogue in their final group game, Bandon overcame Erin’s Own’s reserves, 3-19 to 4-10, at the quarter-final stage two weeks ago.

“Bandon are a top team. They are only down from Premier Intermediate within the last couple of years. We know it’s going to be a massive challenge.

“We’re just hoping, kind of similar to the Aghabullogue game, we go out and just work really hard and take it from there and hopefully the result follows after that.

“It would be great for the club to have 40-odd fellas coming down training next Tuesday getting ready for two finals.

“There’s a great buzz around the club and we are all looking forward to the two semi-finals this weekend for our teams.”