SHL Division 1: Cunningham and Cahalane combine as St Finbarr's keep winning run going with hard fought win over Sarsfields

Sarsfields 0-19 

St Finbarr’s 2-17 

St Finbarr’s winning run in the Red FM Senior hurling league continued when they won a thrilling clash against the holders Sarsfields at Riverstown on Thursday night.

Both teams went into the game with two wins each and one loss and it was evident in the early exchanges they were intent on continuing with their recent rich vein of form.

Make no mistake this was certainly a statement of intent as the Barrs minus a number of key players showed they have strength in depth to make a bold bid in the forthcoming championship.

Ben Cunningham once again was their leading talisman with 10 points, but man of the match went to Jack Cahalane who was simply awesome that saw him finish with a 1-3 tally.

The opening exchanges were frantic and Sars were almost through on goal just 40 seconds into the throw in when Cian Darcy showed great pace but his final pass spoiled a terrific passage of play.

Credit to the Barrs they were certainly up for battle and with Ben Cunningham and Jack Cahalane posing Sars defence all sorts of problems they surged into a three- point lead in the sixth minute.

To be fair the Barrs were winning the majority of dirty ball and when Ben Cunningham brought his total to four white flags in the 14th minute it increased their lead to five points.

Suddenly Sars realised they were in a serious game and gradually they began winning key ball at centre field and with Darcy and Jack O’Connor finding their range the teams were on parity in the 20th minute.

The home team edged ahead seven minutes from the interval courtesy of a superb Brian Murphy point.

Both sides traded points up to the interval, but a late Darcy point saw the home team go in at the break commanding a one- point lead 0-13 to 0-12.

On the restart Cunningham split the posts and in the 32nd minute the same player took a quick 21- yard free but a superb Donnacha McCarthy denied him a certain goal.

Jack O’Connor had a tough night at the office as he was well marshalled by the outstanding Aidan Barry but a well struck point in the 43rd minute gave his team a two- point lead.

Credit to the Barrs they responded in style and when Cullinane broke clear of Sars defence a minute later his thunderous shot was parried by McCarthy but it fell into the path of Conor McCarthy who guided the ball to the empty net.

In fairness both sides continued to battle for every ball, but the game swung in Barrs direction in the 50th minute when they registered a second goal.

Not for the first time the pace and balance of Cahalane caught the Sars defence napping and the Barrs forward showed his class when drilling a low shot to the corner of the net.

The tempo increased again in the closing minutes but Sars were unable to peg back the rampant Barrs and it was fitting man of the match Cahalane would finish with a magnificent point that ensured the all- important win for the Togher outfit.

Scorers for Sars: J O’Connor 0-4, B Murphy 0-3, D Hogan 0-3 (f,65), D Long 0-2, C Darcy 0-2, K Murphy 0-2, S O’Regan 0-2 (f), R O’Brien 0-1.

St Finbarr’s: B Cunningham 0-10 (0-6f,2-65), J Cahalane 1-3, C McCarthy 1-0, B Hennessy 0-2, J Wigginton-Barrett, C O’Connell (0-1 each).

Sarsfields: D McCarthy; D English, K Roche, C O’Sullivan; B Murphy, E Murphy K Crowley; D Hogan, L Elliot; K Murphy, C Darcy; D Long; J O’Connor, S O’Regan, R O’Brien.

St Finbarr’s: S Hurley; S Daly, J Burns, A Barry; C Crowley, C Doolan, E Keane; J Murray, B Hennessy; J Wigginton Barrett, B Cunningham, C Buckley; J O’Kelly, J Cullinane, C McCarthy.

Sub: C O’Connell for C Buckley (48).

Referee: Shane Scanlon (Newcestown).