Three reasons Sars won

SQUAD DEPTH

Where Midleton were missing Eoin Moloney and Conor Lehane, two key components of their run to the final, from last year’s squad Sarsfields were without the injured Cathal McCarthy and emirated duo Aaron Myers and Paul Leopold.

However, such is the conveyor belt of talent in the Riverstown outfit that they were able to compensate – consider, for example, that Daniel Kearney and Barry O’Flynn played for their intermediate A side in the first two rounds of the championship.

GOAL CHANCES

Evan McGrath’s persistence was rewarded as he managed to get in for Midleton’s early goal but unfortunately they couldn’t build on it – neither immediately afterwards with points nor in terms of adding more green flags.

Sars did need Conor O’Sullivan to take Alex Quirke’s effort off the line but at the other end James Sweeney found the net when needed for them and they were unlucky that Jack O’Connor and Colm McCarthy didn’t make more of first-half chances.

EXPERIENCE

While five of the Sars team were making first county final starts, they were able to call on the fact that three of the side – Daniel Kearney, Craig Leahy and inspirational captain Conor O’Sullivan – have been part of the journey since 2008 and now own six county medals each.

Recent muscle memory of wins over Midleton in the 2023 final and 2024 semi-final must also have played a part while management duo Johnny Crowley and Diarmuid O’Sullivan have amassed an impressive palmarès since taking over – two county titles, one Munster and three leagues.