Oct 21,2024
Imokilly 1-23 Sarsfields 0-17
Imokilly are the Cork Premier Senior Hurling Champions for only the sixth time after winning this competitive 2024 decider against Sarsfields at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Scoring ten points without reply in a strong second half proved the catalyst to drive Imokilly to championship success.
Defending champions Sarsfields opened the scoring inside the opening 10 seconds thanks to a fine score by Daniel Hogan.
Sars had the early momentum, with Colm McCarthy and Daniel Kearney both slotting over crispy take points in the opening ten minutes as they led 0-3 to 0-0.
Imokilly, who won three Cork Senior titles in a row from 2017 to 2019, got a much needed point through Jack Leahy, before Sars responded with two wonderful long range scores in a row including Conor O'Sullivan leading by example with a cracking effort.
Jack Leahy got further Imokilly points on the quarter of an hour mark. But it was Sars who led 0-7 to 0-3 after 20 minutes through scores by Daniel Hogan.
Sarsfields were building up a healthy advantage in this one. A fruitful period which included fine Jack O'Connor and Cian Darcy points saw them lead 0-11 to 0-4 after 28 minutes.
Sean Desmond then got a much needed score for Imokilly. But at the half time break, it was Sarsfields that held the advantage at 0-11 to the 0-5 of Imokilly.
Imokilly found the lifeline they badly needed to find a route back into the contest early in the second half, when Adam Murphy blasted home with a well taken goal to the net after being teed up by Bill Cooper.
When Diarmuid Healy pointed for Imokilly on 33 minutes, there were just two points between the sides at 0-10 to the 1-7 of Imokilly.
That gap was down to just a single point when Seamus Harnedy then landed over points.
The tide was growing as Imokilly grew in momentum as they gradually took over in the second half.
Imokilly went ahead with 42 minutes played on the clock, as Jack Leahy kept his composure in the driving wind to slot over from a free.
Heading into the final quarter of a man hour this contest was all up for grabs. A point by Aaron Myers edged Sars back into the lead.
However scores from Shane Hegarty and Leahy edged Imokilly back ahead once more, along with frees from Eoin Davis and that man Jack Leahy, saw the Divisional side lead 1-17 to 0-16 after 55 minutes played on the clock.
Barry Lawton and Mike Kelly added further Imokilly scores to extend their advantage out to six points with three minutes of normal time remaining.
Jack Leahy capped off a man of the match display for Imokilly with another point from play late on.
It was Imokilly who led the merry jig of celebrations at the full time whistle.
The season is not over just yet for Sarsfields, as they will now go on to represent Cork in the Munster Club Senior Hurling Championship.
Imokilly: Eoin Davis (St Catherine's) (0-1f) ; Timmy Wilk(Cobh), Micheal Russell (Aghada), Ciaran O’Brien (St Ita’s); Daire O’Leary(Watergrasshill), Ciaran Joyce(Castlemartyr), John Cronin (Lisgoold); Shane Hegarty(Dungourney) (0-3), Bill Cooper(Youghal); Diarmuid Healy (Lisgoold) (0-1) , Seamus Harnedy(St Ita’s) (0-2), Brian Lawton (Castlemartyr); Adam Murphy(Watergrasshill) (1-0) , Sean Desmond(Watergrasshill) (0-3), Jack Leahy(Dungourney) (0-11, 0-7f, 0-1 '65').
Subs: Kevin O’Neill(Watergrasshill) for Russell (36), Mike Kelly (Castlemartyr) (0-1) for Murphy (47), Barry Lawton(Castlemartyr) (0-1) for Healy (52), Will Leahy (Aghada) for Desmond (60+3).
Sarsfields: Donnacha McCarthy; Paul Leopold (0-1) , Craig Leahy, Conor O’Sullivan (0-1) ; Bryan Murphy (0-1), Eoghan Murphy, Luke Elliott; Cian Darcy (0-1) , Daniel Kearney (0-1) ; James Sweeney, Daniel Hogan (0-5, 0-2f), Aaron Myers (0-2) ; Jack O’Connor (0-3) , Colm McCarthy (0-1), Shane O’Regan.
Subs: Cathal McCarthy (0-1) for O’Regan (HT), Liam Healy for Sweeney (39), Killian Murphy for Kearney (52).
