Sarsfields blow neighbours away to reach SFC semi-finals
Callum Bolton (Sarsfields) bursts through the tackles of Moorefield duo Aaron Masterson and Eoin Meehan. Photo: Sean Brilly
Sarsfields produced the most impressive performance of the Joe Mallon Motors Group Senior Football Championship quarter-finals as they extended their recent dominance over local rivals Moorefield in the Newbridge derby at Cedral St Conleth’s Park.
The first-half couldn’t have gone any better for Sarsfields and their interval lead of 0-15 to 1-1 was just rewards for a performance brimming with intent, physicality and pace. They managed four two-pointers as they racked up fourteen points from play into the town end and it could have been more.
That they did so without star forwards Ben Loakman, Ben McCormack and Ryan Kearney, the latter on Lumsden Cup duty with Newbridge United, made it all the more impressive and but for a goal and a point from Tommy Rooney it would have been a completely opening half wipeout for Moorefield.
Points from playmaker Barry Coffey and Duracell bunny Karl Hartley had Sarsfields two points up when Mark Dempsey broke through the heart of their defence and set up Rooney to finish neatly past Cathal Moore after eight minutes.
That setback merely saw Sarsfields redouble their efforts. Coffey (free) and Conor O’Donovan put them back in front with points and then the two-pointers started to flow. Luke Mahon got the first of them, a superb effort and Hartley, Callum Bolton and an audacious one from Coffey helped them into an eleven-point half-time advantage.
It could have been worse for Moorefield had goal chances for Cian Costigan and Hartley gone abegging, the first dragged wide across goal and the second chipped off the crossbar.
The second half was mundane in comparison with Sarsfields adding four points including an exquisite two-point free from the classy Coffey before Moorefield registered four of their own during a seventeen-minute spell when the winners failed to score. Mark Murray will feel aggrieved that a goal from a quickly taken free was ruled out by referee Conor Daly, but he made amends with a fine two-pointer.
Sarsfields woke from their slumber in injury time with Hartley finding the net from close range and Coffey bringing his tally to seven points before Moorefield substitute Aaron Martin landed a two-pointer.
Cathal Moore; Colm Harnett, Kieran Dwyer, Cian Hughes; Daragh Conlon, Shea Ryan, Cathal White; Matty Byrne 0-1, Gavin Anderson 0-1; Callum Bolton 0-2 (tp), Barry Coffey 0-7 (1tp,1tpf,1f), Cian Costigan 0-1; Karl Hartley 1-3 (1tp), Luke Mahon 0-3 (1tp), Conor O’Donovan 0-2. Subs: Daragh Ryan for Mahon 38, David Shalvey for Costigan 42, Jimmy O’Neill for Harnett 42, Con Kavanagh for White 49, Rian Beagan for Conlon 56.
Tom Kinsella; Liam Callaghan, Mark Dempsey, Conor Walsh; Adam Sweeney, James Murray, Anthony Durney; Tommy McGrath, Aaron Masterson; Eoin Meehan, Kevin Murnaghan, Mark Murray 0-3 (1tp,1f); Evan O’Brien, Ryan Moore, Tommy Rooney 1-2. Subs: Liam Healy for James Murray (temp) 12-13, Healy for Walsh HT, Luke Sweeney for Murnaghan 36, Dan O’Callaghan for Moore 38, Dan Hanniffy for Durney 51, Aaron Martin 0-2 (tp) for Meehan 51.
Conor Daly.
