Dec 16,2024
Sarsfields are through to their first ever AIB GAA All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship final following a 0-18 to 0-17 victory over Slaughtneil at Cedral St Conleths, Newbridge.
The tie was effectively decided by a late flick of the sliotar as a goal-scoring opportunity for Mark McGuigan from right in front of the posts ended with a white flag.
That decided a marathon encounter between two clubs that were level five times up until a late burst from Aaron Myers, Liam Healy, and Cathal McCarthy.
That got Sars over the line, and makes them the first Cork club to make it to the final since Newtownshandrum in 2006.
The Munster champions were dogged – starting with a goal chance for Colm McCarthy that was batted away by Oisin O'Doherty. The sliotar went out to Myers and the corner-forward got an easy score inside 30 seconds.
Daniel Hogan then put over a brace of frees, while Cormac O’Doherty opened his account with a placed ball.
That was the start of a 0-04 run by the forward that first made his name known by winning a Hogan Cup with St Patrick's College in football, and it helped the Ulster side go in front at 0-05 to 0-03.
Sars responded by outscoring their far-away rivals 0-05 to 0-02 with Jack O’Connor and Hogan both scoring braces while Bryan Murphy got one. This helped the club gain a narrow 0-08 to 0-07 advantage at half-time.
The game restarted with Se McGuigan ensuring parity from play and Myers immediately retaliated for the Cork side.
Slaughtneil then out-scored Sars 0-05 to 0-01 with Cormac O’Doherty leading the pack with two frees, which gave them a three cushion at the 45th minute.
Sars tore that assumer, bit by bit, with Myers kick-starting the comeback from open play. O’Connor got two within a minute and Shane O’Regan announced his arrival by slotting over.
That put the Munster champions back in front at 0-14 to 0-13 in the 53rd minute and Cathal McCarthy got his first of the game seconds later.
Two quick frees by Cormac O’Doherty followed and once again the two clubs were level, this time with 5 minutes on the clock.
Myers took it on himself with a daring run to put Sars back in front and Healy got one after winning Slaughtneil’s puck-out.
Shane McGuigan reduced the arrears to one before Cathal McCarthy snuck the sliotar over the bar in the second minute of added time.
At 0-18 to 0-16, Slaughtneil pushed for a goal, and the rush ended with an agonising flick by Mark McGuigan.
Sarsfields: Ben Graham; Paul Leopold, Cillian Roche, Conor O’Sullivan, Bryan Murphy (0-01), Eoghan Murphy, Luke Elliott, Cian Darcy, Daniel Kearney, James Sweeney, Daniel Hogan (0-04, 4f), Cathal McCarthy, Jack O’Connor (0-04), Colm McCarthy (0-02), Aaron Myers (0-05, 2f).
Subs: Shane O’Regan (0-01) for Sweeney (42); Craig Leahy for Leopold (44), Killian Murphy for E Murphy (50), Liam Healy (0-01) for Kearney (58).
Slaughtneil: Oisin Doherty; Fionn McEldowney, Conor McAllister, Paul McNeil, Ruairi O Mianain (0-01), Sean Cassidy, Shane McGuigan, Jack Cassidy, Meehaul McGrath (0-01), Se McGuigan (0-03), Mark McGuigan (0-01), Eamon Cassidy (0-01), Shea Cassidy (0-01), Brendan Rodgers, Cormac O’Doherty (0-09, 9f).
Subs: Cathal McKaigue for O’Mianain (51); Gerald Bradley for McGrath (55), Peter McCullagh for Cassidy (58).
Referee: James Owens (Askamore)
