Sars avail of super start
SARSFIELDS HWH-BUNCLODY 2-14 1-7
SARSFIELDS SEALED their spot in the Enniscorthy Farms Systems Junior ‘A’ football championship final with a convincing victory over HWH-Bunclody in Oylegate on Sunday.
After a lightning start, Sarsfields raced to a ten-point lead before their rivals began to settle into the game and reduce the gap.
But, with dominant displays all over the field, Sarsfields completely outplayed their opponents in the final stages of the game with a performance that will surely give them confidence as they go on to the final.
The Wexford town side had an electric start as they ran up a ten-point lead in the opening quarter, with Shane Bergin looking dangerous as he hit 1-2, along with scores from Seán Pailing, Shaun Donohue, Ian O’Leary and Andrew Harrington.
HWH-Bunclody had failed to register a score before Paul Finn finally got them off the mark after 17 minutes, but they held their opponents scoreless as they closed out the half with a well-taken goal from Michael Connors, leaving six between the sides at the break (1-7 to 1-1).
If Bunclody were to have any chance of a comeback, they needed a strong start to the new half.
But, it was the Wexford town side that produced the goods once again, as Andrew Harrington hit two well-taken points before a sweeping move involving a number of players resulted in Shaun Donohue slotting a cool finish to the net to restore the Sarsfields’ ten-point advantage.
To HWH-Bunclody’s credit, they continued to work hard and play the game in a spirited manner, and were rewarded with points from Jason Cowman, Jamie John Murphy and Joe Kavanagh.
But, they were never going to trouble their opponents who continued to attack with vigour, linking up in impressive style to close out the game with a further five points to march on to a final meeting with Adamstown.
Sarsfields: James Crean; Dean Murphy, Tony Hennessy, Adam Roche; Shaun Donohue (1-1), David Gannon, Colm O Corcora; Paul Gannon, Ciarán Byrne; Fran Cleary (0-1), Seán Pailing (0-2), Andrew Harrington (0-4, 1 free); Shane Bergin (1-3), Ian O’Leary (0-1 free), Conall O Crualaoich. Subs. - Danny Walsh (0-1) for O’Leary, inj. (23), Cillian Gahan for Pailing, inj. (29), Kevin Gore (0-1) for D. Gannon, Stephen Cummins for Byrne, John Gannon for O Crualaoich.
HWH-Bunclody: Francis Reck; Thomas O’Neill, Enda Slevin, Aidan Mahon; Matty Byrne, Joe Kavanagh (0-1), Jamie Kavanagh; Jason Cowman (0-1), James Taylor; Tadhg Kelly, James Moorhead, Stephen Kavanagh; Michael Connors (1-0), Paul Finn (01), Jamie John Murphy (0-4 frees). Subs. - Darren Murphy for Taylor (40), Conor Hendrick for Jamie Kavanagh (40), Paul Jackman for Mahon (47), Diarmuid Crean for S. Kavanagh (56), John Connors for Finn (57).
Referee: Mick Lanigan (Shelmaliers).