Sars hang on for victory
SARSFIELDS HUNG on to take victory in a hotly-contested All-County Football League Division 5 semi-final against gutsy Craanford in Páirc Charman on Sunday.
Playing with the breeze, the hosts were just about able to build a five-point lead in the first-half, despite some wayward shooting. However, it was Adam Carroll’s goal just three minutes after the interval that was the crucial score.
The wind was at its strongest in the first-half and Sarsfields dominated the early stages with it blowing them forward.
Seán Pailing kicked the first point, Ian O’Leary burst through on Stephen Cummins’ pass to net, and Danny Walsh kicked a free a short time later as the hosts eased clear.
Des Kavanagh halted the run with a nice point from Gary Keat- ing’s feed but it only proved a momentary respite.
Colm Ó Corcora kicked a booming ‘45, Cillian Gahan registered with what should have gone down as one of ten first-half wides, and Ciarán Byrne and O’Leary also contributed to make it 1-6 to 0-1.
A mini-revival before the break, which saw Stuart Byrne kick two frees and Michael Shortle add a point left just five between the sides at the interval (1-6 to 0-4).
There was nine in it when Carroll netted from close range in the 33rd minute, but Craanford responded.
Byrne tapped over three placed balls, and Shortle also pointed, as the visitors sliced the deficit down to five.
Craanford peppered the goalmouth with balls but couldn’t find that killer pass to grab the major they badly needed. O’Leary and Walsh seemed to settle the growing unease but the ‘Ford grabbed two quick Jamie Doyle points to respond.
Byrne sent a penalty home off crossbar and then staunchion after John Lancaster was fouled, but there was no time for a dramatic winning major as time expired on their charge. Sarsfields will now face Clongeen in the league decider the weekend after next.
Sarsfields: Colm O’Dowda; Adam Roche, Dáire Reville, Stephen Cummins; Colm O Corcora (0-1 ‘45), David Gannon, Conall O Crualaoich; Cillian Gahan (0-1), Paul Gannon; Ryan Furlong, Ciarán Byrne (0-1), Seán Pailing (0-1); Shane Bergin, Ian O’Leary (1-2), Danny Walsh (0-3 frees). Subs. - Adam Carroll (1-0) for Furlong, inj. (30+2), John Gannon for Byrne (46), Seán Ryan for O’Leary (58), John Clancy for Pailing (59), Gary Carroll for Roche (59).
Craanford: Paddy Doyle; Pádraig Redmond, James Byrne, Patrick Lancaster; John Lancaster, Jim Kenny, Stuart Byrne (1-5, 0-5 frees, 1-0 pen.); Michael Shortle (0-2), Martin Doyle; Des Kavanagh (0-1), Jamie Doyle (0-2), Calvin O’Toole; Tony Kavanagh, Gary Keating, Derek Finn. Subs. - Martin Kenny for T. Kavanagh, inj. (37), Andrew Tighe for Finn (42), Thomas Furlong for Keating (58), Luke Byrne for Redmond (58).
Referee: Peter Shannon (Kilmore).