Sars make serious statement with deadly dismantling of neighbours
As statements of intent go, they don't come much stronger than this. Sarsfields never had to raise a gallop as they brushed aside Erin's Own in Group 1 of the Co-op Superstores Cork PSHC. All but three points of their tally came from play, 11 players got their names on the scoresheet, and the talent left on the bench for the hour will ensure that nobody will be getting ahead of themselves in Riverstown.
It was a chastening evening for Erin's Own, but they gave themselves something to build on in the second half with Cian O'Callaghan bagging two goals and Conor Lenihan excellent all evening in scoring 0-5.
The game was over at the interval as two goals from James Sweeney and a contender for goal of the season from Killian Murphy left Sars 3-12 to 0-5 in front. Jack O'Connor fired in a fourth goal four minutes after the break and the Cork panelist was sublime throughout, hitting 1-8. Excellent work from Óran O'Regan and Lenihan set O'Callaghan up for his opening goal to make it 4-16 to 1-7 with twenty minutes to go. Robbie O'Flynn rifled home a twenty-one-yard free at the start of the final quarter but those majors never put a dent into the deficit as Sars were scoring at will from out the field with Daniel Hogan and Conor O'Sullivan particularly proficient.
O'Flynn set up O'Callaghan for goal number three for Erin's Own with seven to play, and one assumes that Johnny Crowley will be latching on to those goals when they reassemble during the week. The balmy evening made up for the lack of bite as the game petered out towards inevitability with O'Regan landing the games final score in injury time to leave eighteen between them.
The opening ten minutes promised us a contest. The sides were level three times, and Erin's Own were throwing themselves about. Conor Lenihan, Eoghan Murphy and Tom Dillon from a free split the posts for Erin's Own, while Jack O'Connor with two and Colm McCarthy were on target for Sars.
Ben Nodwell of Sarsfields with Peter O'Shea, Erins Own. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
There were signs, however, that the Caherlag-based side were creaking. Twice Shane O'Regan got a sight of goal, and twice he was repelled with Dillon making an outstanding stop for effort number one and Riain O'Regan making a heroic block second time around. Still, points from the rampant O'Connor and Bryan Murphy pushed Sars two clear, and from there, their lead would only grow.
A combination of Dillon and O'Regan denied O'Regan for a third time and when Mossy O'Carroll gave Matt O'Riordan a sight at goal at the other end, there was a sense that this was the chance. Ben Graham saved well, however, and moments later Killian Murphy ran through the heart of the Erin's Own defence before cracking a bullet past Dillon. Fifteen minutes had been played, and Sars led by 1-5 to 0-3. They then won the rest of the half by 2-7 to 0-2 as Erin's Own simply had no answer for their pace, power and class.
James Sweeney banged in two goals, Cathal McCarthy strode forward two points, O'Connor and Colm McCarthy added two more to their tallies while Cian Darcy and Daniel Hogan also pointed. Lenihan and Cian Dunphy were on target for Erin's Own, but trailing by 3-12 to 0-5 at the interval, they faced into a long second half.
They did as well as they could from there, and for them, it's all about trying to raise their spirits for their final game against Fr O'Neill's, while Sars will be looking to secure the direct route to the final four when they play Glen Rovers.
Scorers for Sarsfields: J O'Connor (1-8), J Sweeney (2-0), Colm McCarthy (0-5,0-3 f), K Murphy (1-2), D Hogan (0-5), C Darcy, Cathal McCarthy, C O'Sullivan, B Murphy (0-2 each), S O'Regan, B Graham (0-1 each).
Scorers for Erin's Own: R O'Flynn (1-4,1-2 f), C O'Callaghan (2-0), C Lenihan (0-5), E Murphy, P O'Shea, O O'Regan, T Dillon (free), C Dunphy (0-1) each.
SARSFIELDS: B Graham; C O'Sullivan ( c), Cathal McCarthy, C Leahy; B Murphy, C Roche, L Elliott; D Hogan, K Murphy; C Darcy, Colm McCarthy, J O'Connor; B Nodwell, J Sweeney, S O'Regan.
ERIN'S OWN: T Dillon; R O'Regan (JC), C Dooley, T O'Connell; C O'Connor, C Dunphy, C McDonnell; Ó O'Regan, P O'Shea; M O'Carroll, R O'Flynn (JC), M O'Riordan; C Lenihan, E Murphy, F O'Brien.
Subs: S Irwin for O'Carroll, S Broderick for McDonnell (both h/t), B Óg Murphy for E Murphy (37), C O'Callaghan for O'Brien (39), R Twomey for O'Riordan (42)
Referee: Cathal McAllister (Aghada).
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