Cian McCarthy hits a hat-trick as Sars second team deliver first class display to beat Aghada
Joey McCarthy, grandson of the late Teddy, lifts the cup with the Sarsfields team after they defeated Aghada in the Division 6 Hurling League final in Cobh. Picture: David Keane.
Former Cork Senior hurler Cian McCarthy rolled back the years for Sarsfield’s when helping them to an emphatic win over Aghada in the final of the Red FM Division 6 Hurling League final at sun-drenched Cobh on Sunday.
After having a successful career with Sars, McCarthy, son of the late, great Teddy, moved to Passage. However, last season he returned as one of the management team of the club’s senior hurling team.
In this decider with Sars' second team, McCarthy showed there is no replacement for class finishing with a Man of the Match 3-5 tally.
On a beautiful afternoon at the East Cork venue, both teams were certainly up for battle and Sars got the perfect start with a goal of sheer class in the fifth minute. A high ball towards the square was flicked down by Luke Elliot into the path of Cian McCarthy who drilled a low shot past the bewildered Aghada keeper.
McCarthy followed up with a classy white flag a minute later but Aghada luckily got a quick response. Following some poor Sars defending Noah Devoy pounced and drilled a magnificent shot to the corner of the net.
In a very open half, the one negative for both sides was the amount of wides that were accumulated as Sars had 12 with Aghada chipping in with 11.
Aghada were giving Sars plenty of space going forward and they were punished again in the 14th minute when centre field ace Sam McNamara strolled through to register a second green flag that gave the Riverstown outfit a three-point lead.
The closing quarter was competitive but with Sars going nine minutes without a score gave Aghada the opportunity to stay within striking distance. It was no surprise the sides were tied at the break: 2-4 to 1-7.
On the restart, Sars, with the aid of a slight breeze, looked a side on a mission with Luke Hackett soling through and splitting the posts just 20 seconds into the half. We then witnessed sheer class from McCarthy as he got in behind the Aghada defence to billow the back of the net with precision.
Aghada were relying on the striking of William Leahy to keep them in the game but Sars basically had far too much firepower, epitomised when Hackett drilled home their fourth goal midway through the half.
The game petered out but there was still time for McCarthy to complete his hat-trick.
Sars completed a double of league titles in the space of four days.
C McCarthy 3-5 (1-2 f, 0-1 sl), S McNamara 1-2, L Hackett 1-2, S O’Regan 0-4, P Leopold 0-2, L Elliot, J Huggins 0-1 each.
W Leahy 0-10 (0-6 f), R Murphy 1-1, N Devoy 1-0, C Terry 0-3, S O’Driscoll 0-2, J Looney 0-1.
B Graham; J Huggins, P Leopold, R Barry; K Crowley, J Leahy, R Higgins; S Bracken, S McNamara; S King, L Hackett, C McCarthy; B Nodwell, L Elliot, S O’Regan.
C O’Rourke for S Bracken (45), O McCarthy for J Leahy (51), S Higgins for R Barry (59), J Leddy for R Higgins (59), M Funchion for L Elliot (59).
J Walsh; K O’Shea, J McDonnell, F O’Connell; F O’Connor, M Russell, J Norris; W Leahy, R Murphy; C Terry, S O’Driscoll, H Mulcahy; N Devoy, J Looney, J O’Hanlon.
J O’Hanlon for H Mulcahy (40), J Hurley for S O’Driscoll (50), T Condon for C Terry (56).
Brian Murphy (Carrigtwohill).
App?
