Dec 16,2024
Sarsfields manager Johnny Crowley paid an emotional tribute to his club's journey after they held off Slaughtneil to reach the All-Ireland Senior Club Championships final for the first time.
Sars didn't have a pitch for a year and didn't even win Cork but they will take on fellow first-time finalists Na Fianna on 19 January after adding the Derry dual club to their list of scalps.
They had to dig deep to get there though, fighting back from three points down midway through the second half before hanging on to win 0-18 to 0-17 in Newbridge.
"Lucky for us it [Mark McGuigan's shot] went six inches over instead of six inches under. That's probably the moment of the game.
"We're going home absolutely over the moon. Unfortunately for Slaughtneil they're going home and they're deflated. But look, I think the whole game was an absolute slog. It was like two heavyweights going at it from the first whistle. It was punch for punch and thankfully we came out the right side of it.
"We have some really, really good stick men. But when we have to dig deep, by God, we can dig deep. That's great credit to the lads."
Sarsfields were beaten in the Cork hurling final by Imokilly, who are not allowed to compete in national competitions as a divisional side.
Sars took their place and battled past Clare champions Feakle before sensationally ending Ballygunner's four-in-a-row tilt in the Munster decider.
Now, the first-time provincial champions are one step from ultimate glory, despite having had no pitch for a year following floods caused by Storm Babet.
"This is our first time ever in an All-Ireland semi-final. It's an incredible journey we're on," said Crowley.
"It just seems to be unbelievable and magnificent victory one after the other. We're just over the moon.
"I can remember last year I brought my daughter down to Santa Claus and I looked out and it was a building site. It was rubble. It was just devastating to see it.
"I brought her down there last Saturday to Santa again and you look out and you see lush green grass. You think about all the hard work, all the endless free time people put in, the endless hours they've put in.
"Then around the pitch and our journey of going all over East Cork and trying to get our pitches. We never had our home pitch, we never had a home base. We were always probably anything from 40 minutes to an hour away from somewhere. But we were always there and we always trained and we were always together.
"I think those little moments can unite a group. I suppose winning tight games, it has to bond a team. It just has to bond a team."
Cork teams won nine of the first 11 club All-Irelands but Sarsfields are the first side from the county to reach the decider since Newtownshandrum in 2005-6.
"For the county of Cork, we got massive support the last two weeks," said former Rebels defender Crowley.
"The amount of people that have been ringing and texting me. I didn't realise it was that popular. That's fantastic. It's all well-wishes. It's amazing. It's just an incredible journey and I just hope it doesn't end.
"This is beyond our wildest dreams. It's going to be an incredible four weeks below in Glanmire.
"I think the buzz, you see all the kids out here now today, it's only going to bond the club tighter. I think over the next few years, we'll see a massive knock on effect from this, hopefully.
"It's dreamland. It's emotional."
