Relentless Sarsfields secure league title at expense of St Finbarr's

Irish Examiner

12-07-2025

Cork Division 1 HL final: Sarsfields 0-27 St Finbarr's 2-15
Another league title. Another impressive win. Sarsfields had a point to prove, and St Finbarr's were on the receiving end of it. It's synonymous with Johnny Crowley's Sars at this point.
In Carrigtwohill on Saturday for the RedFM Hurling League Division 1 final, it was another perfect example of what Sars can do.
After 47 minutes, the Barrs were two in front. By conclusion, they were six behind.
Ten of the last 12 scores were from Sars. Their first burst of five-in-a-row from the 49th to 54th minutes left it 0-22 to 2-13.
Jack Cahalane got one back. Another burst of four was the answer from Sars. Subs Hogan and Barry O'Flynn accounted for three of those efforts.
Having had enough of it, William Buckley tracked back to his own 45 to receive the puckout from Shane Hurley. He ran all the way to the opposing 45 and fired over. But Sars response was perfect.
Pass, pass, score. Colm McCarthy to Bryan Murphy, then to Hogan for his third point. Sars couldn't be stopped. In added time, the Barrs went goal hunting. But to no avail.
A six-point win. Another league title heading back to Riverstown.
The Sarsfields team and some of their youngest supporters. Pic: Howard Crowdy
After 35 minutes, the teams were deadlocked, 1-9 to 0-12. Thanks to the superb showings from Bryan Murphy and Ben Graham, that score read 0-17 to 1-11 in favour of Sars after 43 minutes.
But Jack Cahalane and Buckley came to life. An incisive run from Cahalane allowed him to pop the pass to Kevin O'Flynn, who was brought down for a penalty. Cahalane rifled home, before he and Buckley added a score each.
But Sars would have the final say.
Graham's exceptional double save in the first half ensured there would be no Barrs lead at half-time. The chance arrived two minutes after O'Flynn had nudged the Barrs ahead with a goal, as Eoin Keane went long to Colm Keane, who offloaded to John Wigginton-Barrett.
The Barrs' full-forward closed the space before unleashing a strike that was brilliantly saved, but the follow-up fell to Wigginton-Barrett again.
He pulled as Graham saved again, and Colm Keane's third attempt was knocked around for a 65, which Ben Cunningham converted – leaving it 1-7 to 0-8.
A McCarthy free and Cian Darcy effort restored parity for a third time between the teams after 26 minutes. That 1-7 to 0-10 score remained until the break.
Pictured with the Red FM Division 1 Hurling league trophy were Craig, Sam and Jack Leahy, with Jamie Graine. Pic: Howard Crowdy
After 15 minutes the Barrs had a two-point cushion – but Nodwell and McCarthy (two) had their say, nudging Sars in front for the first time after 19 minutes, 0-7 to 0-6.
The Barrs' response was brilliant – Hurley playing the one-two with Jamie Burns before driving it in on top of the Sars square, where Kevin O'Flynn emerged to blast home after 21 minutes.
St Finbarr's never pulled more than two clear, though, and paid the price for it in the second half.
Scorers for Sarsfields: C McCarthy 0-8 (0-6 f), B Nodwell 0-4, D Hogan 0-3, D Long, B Murphy 0-2 each, B Graham (f), B O'Flynn, K Murphy, L Elliott, C Roche, C Darcy, J Sweeney, J Leahy 0-1 each.
Scorers for St Finbarr's: J Cahalane 1-2 (1-0 pen), B Cunningham 0-4 (0-3 f, 0-1 65), K O'Flynn 1-1, W Buckley 0-3, C Cahalane 0-2, J Wigginton-Barrett, C Keane, J O'Kelly 0-1 each.
SARSFIELDS: B Graham; C O'Sullivan, C Roche, K Walsh; B Murphy, L Elliott, C Leahy; K Murphy, J Leahy; D Long, Colm McCarthy, C Darcy; B Nodwell, J Sweeney, S O'Regan.
Subs: Cathal McCarthy for Leahy, D Hogan for Sweeney (both 45), B O'Flynn for K Murphy (56).
ST FINBARR'S: S Hurley; E Keane, J Burns (c), B O'Connell; C Doolan, B Hennessy, C Crowley; C Cahalane, C Walsh; B Cunningham, C Keane, J O'Kelly; S Cunningham, J Wigginton-Barrett, K O'Flynn.
Subs: W Buckley for S Cunningham, J Cahalane for C Keane (both HT), C O'Connor for B Cunningham (43), A Buckley for Walsh (51).
Referee: Wayne King (Banteer)