Sars edge out Charleville after tight hurling league clash

Charleville 0-16 Sarsfields 0-20
Sars made it back-to-back victories in the RedFM Division 1 HL when they defeated Charleville in a closely fought encounter at Kildorrery on Friday evening. 

In ideal conditions, Cian Darcy and Tim Hawe traded points before the county champions gained early momentum with Rory O'Brien, Colm McCarthy and Jack O'Connor on target before a huge puck-out by keeper Donnacha McCarthy set up the impressive wing-back Bryan Murphy, who slotted over the first of his four points, as they moved 0-5 to 0-2 ahead by the 10th minute. 

Charleville quickly got to grips as they worked the short passing to great effect out of their backline. David Forde and Conor Buckley had points for the Rathluirc outfit but they were cancelled out at the other end courtesy of Shane O'Regan and Killian Murphy, 0-7 to 0-4. 

Good work by Charleville's Cathal O'Carroll set up Gavin Kelleher for a long-range point with Sars replying through corner-back Conor O'Sullivan after receiving a good pass from Luke Elliott. 

Charleville continued to create their fair share of chances. Jack Meade set up Jack Callaghan for a fine point before the lead was down to the minimum a minute later when Dave O'Riordan split the posts 0-8 to 0-7. 

However, it was Sarfields that struck a purple patch in the run-up to the break. Dan Hogan had a brace of points with Murphy completing the first half scoring with a late point as they held a 0-11 to 0-7 interval lead.

Tim Hawe and Conor O'Sullivan swapped early second-half scores with Forde and Hogan continuing the trend with a free by the 38th minute. The lead was down to three when Charleville's top marksman Forde added another free. 

Sars came close to a goal soon after when O'Connor offloaded to Colm McCarthy, whose effort was excellently saved by the Charleville keeper Conor Reynolds, with the rebound falling into the path of O'Regan, who pointed despite being under severe pressure from the Charleville defence to make it 0-14 to 0-10. 

In the last 20 minutes, the winners maintained a four-point cushion as it was very much point for point. Forde (5), Hogan (3), Murphy (2), Garrett Gleeson and O'Regan traded points before the final whistle as Sars secured a close but deserved victory. 

Both teams have two wins each as Sars lost their opener to the Glen.

Scorers for  Charleville: D Forde 0-8 (0-6 f, 0-1 sl), C Buckley, T Hawe 0-2 each, D O'Riordan, G Kelleher, J Callaghan, G Gleeson 0-1 each.

Sarsfields: D Hogan 0-6 (0-4 f), B Murphy 0-4, S O'Regan 0-3, C O'Sullivan 0-2, C Darcy, R O'Brien, Colm McCarthy, J O'Connor, K Murphy 0-1 each. 

CHARLEVILLE: C Reynolds; D Butler, J Meade, A Dennehy; C O'Carroll, J Buckley, B O'Connell; R Carroll, J Callaghan; C Buckley, D Forde, G Kelleher; D O'Riordan, T Hawe, DJ Collins. 

Subs: G Gleeson for D O'Riordan, F Cagney for R Carroll.

SARSFIELDS: D McCarthy; D English, E Murphy, C O'Sullivan; B Murphy, C Roche, L Elliott; K Murphy, Colm McCarthy; J O'Connor, C Darcy, D Hogan; L Hackett, S O'Regan, R O'Brien.

Subs: J Huggins for K Murphy, D Long for C Darcy, Cian McCarthy for R O'Brien, J Tierney for Cian McCarthy (inj).

Referee: Dave Copps (Ballyhea).