Hunger the difference for Sars as performances start to improve

Sarsfields’ start to the RedFM Division 1 Hurling League hasn’t been perfect, though matching the standards of previous seasons was always going to be a tough ask.

But, last Thursday’s win over Blackrock was an impressive one – even if their opponents were missing several players – and Diarmuid O’Sullivan felt it was a good response after the defeat to St Finbarr’s before.

“Throughout the course of the league we've been kind of hit and miss,” O’Sullivan remarked. “We've been patchy, we've had a couple of results, a couple of poor performances. I think we're just looking for a bit of consistency from everyone.

“What's notable for us is we're starting to build the panel back up again. And when you build a panel, you've got fellas who are under pressure to perform, and you’ve to try and do the right thing. Our motto is, if something doesn't go right so what? What next?

“We've been working on a few things there,” he explained. “Hunger has been the biggest thing. What disappointed us, the Barrs came here a couple of weeks ago, and they gave us a lesson in attitude, hunger, effort.

“All the things you'd kind of require in a senior hurling league. Okay, it's only a league game, but they're still important. You've got the big clubs in Cork coming to Riverstown to play, so we were bitterly disappointed with that.

“We played the Cork U20s here last Wednesday night. In their build-up for last night [Munster championship match v Clare]. Really, really competitive game. I think that stood to us.” The positives are there in the competition they’ve got in the squad, and what O’Sullivan saw from the young players who came off the bench.

“The five lads that came on were all under the age of 20,” he said. “If they’re progressing, you can't hold them back.

“The Barrs came here two weeks ago. I think they played three of the last year's minor teams that won the P2, and they were absolutely outstanding. So why would you hold a young fella back? You reward them for the training. You reward what they're doing,” O’Sullivan added. “We're the same, we have some great young fellas.

“Our older lads are still contributing really well. So it's about finding a bit of consistency for the next couple of weeks and see where it gets us.

“Blackrock were very light tonight. Niall Cashman got married at the weekend. Super player, super guy. So congratulations to him, I know him for a long time and his wife, wish them the best.

“They were down a few, but I think tonight we were a bit hungrier. We won a few of the battles. It's two points in the league. It just takes the rough look off it for us where we’re kind of sitting at the moment.” The sluggish start means that reaching a league final from here will be a tough ask for Sars.

“As for the league, it's probably gone from us,” O’Sullivan admitted. “Midleton and the Bares seem to be pushing it. And that's fine. Look, we'll fill our gaps somewhere along the way. We'll get games. As for now, it's two points in the league.” Last season’s Cork seniors Daniel Hogan and Jack O’Connor starred, but the performances of Darragh Long and Luke Elliott were just as crucial.

“I think Darragh has been thereabouts the last number of years. But, unfortunately for Darragh, he's picked up injuries at crucial times.

“You roll back to the league final last year below in Carrigtwohill, Darragh Long was probably the best player on the field. He picked up an injury, and struggled.

“Luke [Elliott] has shown he's a good guy,” he explained. “A really good hurler. A very clever player. I think he can play multiple roles for us.

“It's up to us to find, for the team, what role he will play. But each guy is adaptable. The game of hurling, you have to be able to play various different roles.

“If you pigeonhole yourself to one position and you're going poorly, the next move is coming out to the sideline. So, lads are clever enough.”