Loakman levels it for Sarsfields against 13-man Eadestown
Sarsfields's Daragh Conlon tries to get past Eadestown's Ben Fitzsimons Photo: Sean Brilly
CHAMPIONSHIP 2024 surprise package, Eadestown, showed that they are going to be a force to be reckoned with as, despite finishing the game with 13 men, they forced Sarsfields to come from two points down deep in five minutes of injury time to claim a dramatic draw in this SFC Round 1 Group A game at a wet Manguard Park on Friday night.
Eadestown lost Conan Boran to a Black Card in the 59th minute and Ben Fitzsimons to a second yellow in that nervy five minutes of injury time at the end of the game.
The sides were level on five occasions throughout the game but the very fluid Eadestown side were two points to the good as we approached injury time but first, a point from play by Ben McCormack and then a free from half time substitute, Ben Loakman rescued the draw for Sarsfields. Indeed, the same player might have had a chance to win the game for the Sash but his 65th minute free fell just short and Referee Billy O’Connell blew the final whistle.
Some of the decisions of the man in the middle were questioned by both sets of supporters and neutrals alike for frees given and ones not given with Eadestown feeling particularly aggrieved on that score.
The rain and darkness fell as the game commenced and indeed the use of the floodlights in Manguard Park could well have been considered appropriate before they were eventually switched on for the second half.
Both sides played quite positive open football and the tackling was as you might expect from a robust championship encounter.
Sarsfields’ opening scores came from placed balls from Barry Coffey and Karl Hartley however Eadestown responded with points from play by the lively and influential Eoin Conneff and Darragh Jameson.
Colm Harnett put the Sash in front for the third time with an excellent point from play in the ninth minute. Three minutes later an Eadestown turnover saw the play-anywhere Pauric Touhy race through the Sarsfields defence and although he appeared to lose possession, he managed to punch the ball over full back. Tom Aspell and goalkeeper, Marc Courtney Byrne for the game’s opening goal. The Sarsfields’ response was immediate and from the kick out Coffey set up the hard-working Shea Ryan for a goal off the outside of the right boot.
Eadestown shot four in a row between the 17th and 24th minutes with Conneff, Ben Fitzsimons, mark, full back, John Lawlor and Conneff again all obliging and the Sky Blues led by three points. To their credit Sarsfields ended the half well with Shane Doyle, from play and Coffey, from a free, bringing them back into the game. Eadestown still led 1-6 to 1-5 after that lively first half, despite the conditions.
The early stages of the second half were a little more subdued and and it took ten minutes into the half before we had our first score as Sarsfields drew level through Ben McCormack. Just when it looked like Sarsfields were getting a grip on the game Eadestown rallied again and went two in front through Cian Bolton and a fisted effort from left back Conan Boran.
Half time substitute, Ben Loakman, fired over a point for Sash and a last ten minutes of normal time and five of injury time ensued. Fitzsimons took a pass from Jack Sargent to put the Sky Blues two clear again but in that frantic five minutes of injury time we had the black card and the dismissal but the unusually quiet Ben McCormack and the young Ben Loakman brought us level for the fifth and final time with their respective points from play and a free.
Eadestown proved that their victory over Clane was no flash in the pan while Sarsfields proved that it will be very hard to bet against them for the closing stages of the senior championship 2024.
Marc Courtney Byrne; Alan Scully, Tom Aspell, Daragh Conlon; David Shalvey, Con Kavanagh, Colm Harnett 0-1; Shea Ryan 1-0, Matty Byrne; Callum Bolton, Barry Coffey 0-2 (2 frees), Ethan Montaine; Ben McCormack 0-2, Shane Doyle 0-1, Karl Hartley 0-1 (free) Subs: Ben Loakman 0-2 (1 free) for Daragh Conlon H/T, Tadhg Hoey for Callum Bolton 39, Jake Loakman for Shane Doyle 41, Jimmy O’Neill for Ethan Montaine 53, Conor Hartley for Barry Coffey 55.
Shane Sargent; Eoin Woods, John Lawlor 0-1, Sean Hynes; Darragh Jameson 0-1, Jack Sargent, Conan Boran 0-1; Rian Boran, Niall Cummins; Ben Fitzsimons 0-2 (1 Mark), Eoin Conneff 0-3, Fiachra Bracken O’Brien; Cian Bolton 0-1, Pauric Touhy 1-0, Conor McCarthy Subs: Eoin Doyle for Conor McCarthy 44, Harry Carroll for Eoin Woods, Niall Grainger for Fiachra Bracken O’Brien 57.
Billy O’Connell
