Eoin Considine's last-gasp goal breaks Carrigtwohill hearts as Sarsfields win thriller
Sarsfields' Adam Leahy shoots past Carrigtwohill's Cillian Rooney during their Premier 1 MHC clash at Carrigtwohill. Picture: David Keane
A last-gasp goal from Eoin Considine gave reigning champions Sarsfields a stunning win after a cracking match with Carrigtwohill in this Cork ETB Rebel Óg Premier 1 MHC Section 2 Round 2 clash at Carrigtwohill on Wednesday evening.
This all-Imokilly affair naturally had plenty on the line, on top of bragging rights, given Carrigtwohill lost to Midleton while Sarsfields drew with Blackrock first day out.
This was one of the best underage hurling games in a long time, a match that had pretty much everything.
The Riverstown-based side looked likely winners for the majority, but a stirring comeback from Carrigtwohill, led by the brilliant Sam Ring, resulted in them leading by two points deep in added time, helped by an inspirational goal from Tom Walsh.
But champions die hard and knew it was simply must-win, and as the clock tipped into the 65th minute, Considine got on the end of a loose ball to unleash a rocket of a shot into the back of the net to keep their progression alive.
Absolute heartbreak for Carrigtwohill, who are now unable to qualify going into the final group game.
Carrigtwohill goalkeeper Adam Lee and his teammates dropped to their knees at full-time. Lee had a great match, with a few sublime stops, especially in the first half.
Sarsfields set the tone early as they led 0-6 to 0-2 after nine breathless minutes. Considine was excelling at centre-back while Adam Dunlea was making things tick from centre-forward.
The sides traded points before Walsh and a Ring free kept Carrigtwohill in touch. Walsh’s energy was helping his team grow into proceedings.
Sarsfields were 0-9 to 0-5 in front after 19 minutes, but four unanswered points from the home side drew parity. The last score was the pick of them from Cillian Galvin.
But Sarsfields showed their quality with 2-1 in two minutes that proved crucial.
Alex Maher and Tom Huggins hit tidy goals while Tom O’Flynn pointed from long range, making it 2-10 to 0-9 with three minutes to the break.
Sarsfields landed three of the last five white flags of the half, with Cuan McMahon hitting two of those scores, to lead 2-13 to 0-11 at half-time.
Sarsfields controlled much of the third quarter as they led 2-15 to 0-15, but a goal from Ring after a Ben Fitzgerald pass gave Carrigtwohill real hope.
The sides traded points before sub James Nolan and Ring left Carrigtwohill a point behind after 49 minutes, 2-16 to 1-18.
Sarsfields, though, had a knack for always responding, and their 2-20 to 1-20 advantage was looking good as the game went into five minutes of added time.
But Walsh, who was a real driving force for Carrigtwohill, was allowed to run and run, and he finished neatly into the bottom corner of the net to draw parity.
The momentum had swung and it looked like, for one final time, the home side had timed it perfectly. They landed three of the next four white flags, with the last score from a Ring free looking like the insurance score.
But Sarsfields fought to the very end and pounced on a dropping ball, resulting in Considine coming up from defence and billowing the back of the net to spark wild celebrations.
Sarsfields are at home to Midleton in the final group game in two weeks, while Carrigtwohill are away to Blackrock.
S Ring 1-11 (0-6 f), T Walsh 1-2, C Galvin 0-3, B Fitzgerald 0-2, C Cashell, C Seymour, D Horgan, R Thornhill, J Nolan 0-1 each.
A Dunlea 0-8 (0-6 f), T Huggins, A Maher 1-2 each, C McMahon 0-4, E Considine 1-1, C Long 0-2, T O’Flynn, A Leahy 0-1 each.
A Lee; K Kidney, C Cashell, F Barrett; C Rooney, C Seymour, J Flanagan; T Walsh, J Cullimore; C Galvin, J O’Connor, S Ring; D Horgan, M Foley, B Fitzgerald.
P Ahern for M Foley (6, inj), R Thornhill for J Flanagan, J Nolan for F Barrett (both h-t), S Dolan for J O’Connor (57).
C McCarthy; S Carey, T O’Flynn, B Murphy; D Crowley, E Considine, D Pomeroy; A Leahy, S Sheehan; A Maher, A Dunlea, C McMahon; T Huggins, C Galvin, C Long.
C Kelly for A Maher (55), O Hurley for D Crowley (62), R Dennehy for A Leahy (64).
Niall O’Neill (Midleton).
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