Sash come from 12 points down to reach semi-final
Sarsfields Daragh Ryan is tackled by Johnstownbridge Josh O Donoghue Photo: Sean Brlly
Sarsfields narrowly avoided disaster as they produced a comeback for the ages to reach the last four of this year’s Joe Mallon Motors Senior Football Championship.
In blustery conditions, Johnstownbridge had shot the lights out in the first half and after scoring seven two pointers led by 12 points early in the second half but they were worn down by a dogged and determination Sarsfields.
Although there was a sense of frustration emanating from the Sarsfields ranks late in the first half, they regrouped at half time and just chipping away at the lead before eventually Tadhg Hoey gave them the lead again in the 58th minute.
The half time introduction of Barry Coffey was key and his calmness and composure on the ball, as well as kicking nine points, was crucial in turning the tide in their favour.
But really the game was won and lost around the middle of the field. Hoey, the giant of a man delivered a giant display and between himself and his midfield partner, as well as their team mates hoovering up the loose and dirty balls, Johnstownbridge struggled to win any possession from their own contrast.
That frustrating second half was in stark contrast to the opening 30 minutes when Johnstownbridge played some of the best Championship football they have played in many years.
The wind certainly helped them, and they were helped further by two “three up” indiscretions by Sarsfields in the opening 12 minutes that resulted in two two point scores, but they played some great stuff.
Their first five scores were all two pointers, Josh O’Donoghue with the first four. Indeed, by half time their only scores that weren’t two pointers were two Daniel Flynn goals and a Paul Cribbin point.
Sarsfields’s response in the face of the onslaught wasn’t great and apart from Karl Hartley’s ninth minute goal and a two pointer by Daragh Ryan, there was little for their supporters to cheer.
With the half time score at 2-15 to 1-7, Johnstownbridge went further ahead when Joey Higgins’ shot was pushed over the bar by Marc Courtney Byrne but they would score only one more point in the remainder of the game as they fell to their eighth quarter final defeat in 12 years.
Two pointers by Ben McCormack and Coffey helped set the comeback in motion but a run of seven points in a row was ended when Josh O’Donoghue converted a close free on the midway point of the point of the half to put Johnstownbridge six points ahead again.
Even at that stage, the lead was feeling shaky and there were signs that they were starting to feel the pressure.
Coffey converted a free and then after Daniel Flynn was hounded in the centre of the field and forced to overcarry the ball, Sarsfields put a move in motion that ended with Hartley hitting the net for his second goal in the 53rd minute.
Johnstownbridge were still two points ahead at that stage but by then it felt die the was already cast and it just felt inevitable that they would be swallowed up by the swashbuckling Sash.
Daragh Sloane was shown a black card for a foul on Daragh Ryan on the two point line in the 55th minute and Coffey converted to level the game.
The excellent Hoey gave Sarsfields the lead and they pulled away to win by four as Johnstownbridge’s deteriorating day was summed by a red shown late on to O’Donoghue for something said to referee Henry Barrett.
Manager Vinnie Walsh will now lead Sarsfields into a semi-final against his former team Athy which just adds another layer of intrigue to what should be a cracking game.
Marc Courtney Byrne; Cian Byrne, Tom Aspell, Alan Scully, Matty Byrne, Daragh Conlon 0-1, Daragh Ryan 0-3 (1tp); Tadhg Hoey 0-1, Shea Ryan 0-1; Cian Costigan, Ryan Kearney, Callum Bolton 0-2 (1f), Conor O’Donovan, Karl Hartley 2-1 (1f), Ben McCormack 0-3 (1tp). Subs: David Higgins for C Byrne, t/s 5-9; David Higgins for C Byrne h/t; Barry Coffey 0-9 (2tpf, 4fs) for Costigan, h/t; Ethan Mountaine for M Byrne, 36; Harry Redmond for Conlon, 38; Kieran Dwyer for O'Donovan, 54.
: Eoin Sheehan; Ian McKeon, Tomas Von Englebrechten, Sean McKeon, Ryan Rainey, Keith Cribbin, Aaron McNally 0-2 (1tp); Joey Higgins 0-1, Paul Cribbin 0-3 (1tp, 1f); Daragh Sloane, Sam Doran, Shane Flynn, Josh O’Donoghue 0-9 (2tp, 2tpf, 1f), Daniel Flynn 2-2 (1tp), Dean Kelly. Subs: Cathal McNally for Doran, 9; Ronan Scanlon for Rainey, h/t; Conor Flynn for Higgins, 45; Kieran Ryan for C McNally, 60+1.
Henry Barrett.
