Sars shine in District derby
Shels show potential with strong second-half revival
SARSFIELDS 4-11 SHELMALIERS 3-4
SARSFIELDS WARMED up for their trip to the John West Feile Peil na nÓg with a useful workout against Shelmaliers in Division 1 of the New Ross Standard Under-14 football championship at Páirc Charman recently.
The hosts were in ominous form in the first-half, playing some lovely football on their way to a 2-7 to 0-1 interval lead. However, the Hollymount side were able to show the huge potential of their young side in the second period by outscoring their classy opponents.
Intricate inter-play, clever running off the ball and fine score-taking were all features of the first-half for Sarsfields. Their half-forwards did a lot of the damage, breaking tackles and running at goal, and the team prospered.
Within a minute the excellent Jack Foley popped over an opening score from Kyle Clancy’s pass. Eoin Hartigan was provider moments later for the Sars centre-forward as he powered through to net.
Darby Purcell’s pace caused Shelmaliers headaches in the opening half, and he set up Foley for 1-2 to nil. He was involved again, as was Hartigan, when Jake Fortune ghosted in behind the visiting defence for his side’s second goal.
Shelmaliers showed their potential when Robbie Morris and Niall Power combined to release Ryan Kielthy who flashed inches over the crossbar. Yet the Sars ended the half stronger with scores from Clancy, Hartigan (three) and Foley leaving them twelve points ahead.
The Over The Water club’s goal led a charmed life early in the second-half as Purcell, Emmett Gahan and Foley all went close to adding a major. When the game’s third goal did come it was the Shels who got it through Kielthy, a rebound after Eoin Halligan had superbly saved Power’s shot.
Points from Fortune and Purcell kept the Sarsfields side of the scoreboard ticking over before they added a third goal ten minutes from time when Cal Innes latched onto a Foley free that crashed off the crossbar and fired home (3-11 to 1-1).
Shelmaliers responded with an Eoin Doyle major after a clever Michael Connors pass. They quickly added another when Cian Doyle fired home from close range and went close again when Niall Power rattled the crossbar.
Impact substitute Cal Innes has such a sweet strike of a football, and he rattled home his second goal four minutes before the end. Kielthy notched a couple of late Shelmaliers points but it was Sarsfields who remain in contention near the top of the Division 1 table.
Sarsfields: Eoin Halligan; Luke Cullen-Ryan, Callum Doyle, Cillian Twomey; Callum Corcoran, Alex Boggan, Patrick Duignan; Darragh Grant (capt.), Kyle Clancy (0-1); Darby Purcell (0-2), Jack Foley (1-4), Luke Murphy; Emmet Gahan, Eoin Hartigan (0-3, 2 frees), Jake Fortune (1-1). Subs. (rolling) - Alex Kirby, Eoin Doyle, Cal Innes (2-0), Killian Whelan, Dar- ragh Maloney, Cuán Gallagher, Jack Corcoran, Brandon Tracey, Darragh Haughton, Ethan Ryan, Kyle Carroll, Charlie Hynes, also Jason Gordon, Oliver McMahon, Jack Connolly, Tiarnan Doyle.
Shelmaliers: Daniel Ormonde; Cathal Harding, Seán Cullen (capt.), Adam Murphy; Ciarán Hearne, Mark Scallan, Cian Doyle (1-0); Luke Roche, Robbie Delaney; Darren O’Leary, Ryan Kielthy (1-3, 0-1 free), Niall Power; Robbie Morris, Michael Connors (0-1 free), Jack Redmond. Subs. (rolling) - Barry Cloake, Eoin Doyle (1-0), Brian Donohoe, Luke Cullen, Scott Dempsey, Ryan Doyle.
Referee: Seán Whelan (St. Martin’s).