Injured trio set to bolster Sars options in near future

While Sarsfields are set to be without their long-term injury victims for their Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC opener against Charleville, manager Johnny Crowley expects them to play some part in the campaign.

Last Friday night, the Riverstown club claimed the RedFM Hurling League title for a fourth straight year as they beat Midleton in Carrigtwohill.

Sars’ depth was shown as the 2-17 to 2-16 victory was achieved despite being without a number of key players. Some of them will be available for the clash with the north Cork side in Castletownroche on Saturday, August 1 – while Cathal McCarthy, James Sweeney and Evan Murphy are all close to recovery too after long spells on the sideline.

McCarthy, a Cork panellist in 2025, was a cruciate-ligament victim during the 2025 championship, while Sweeney had been sidelined with a shoulder problem necessitating an operation and Kerry hurler Murphy sustained a hamstring tear while on inter-county duty.

“From last Friday, Craig Leahy will definitely be back, Luke Elliott will definitely be back, Donnacha McCarthy,” Crowley said.

“Danny Kearney will be three weeks further in, so he'll definitely be available and then there are three longer-term injuries.

“James Sweeney should be back next week, we’d be hoping. The Charleville game might come a week too early for him but he'll definitely be in contention for the second and third round.

“Cathal McCarthy will be back in non-contact next week, so we'll hope to have him available in and around the 10th, 12th of August. Then Evan Murphy was up with the specialist again last week in Dublin, so we think Evan is about two weeks away from full training.

“Realistically, I don't think those three will be in contention for Charleville, but I think the other four lads will certainly be.”