Advertisement
Sarsfields' Joe Barry lifts the trophy alongside Cian McCarthy and Ray Ryan. INPHO/James Crombie
Champions

Sarsfields lift Cork senior hurling crown

The Sean Óg Murphy Cup is heading for Riverstown for the third time in five years.

Sarsfields 1-15
Bishopstown 1-13

Sarsfields maintained their status as the current dominant force in Cork senior club hurling when they claimed a two-point victory over Bishopstown in yesterday afternoon’s decider in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

In 2008 Sarsfields ended a 51-year wait when they claimed senior hurling honours and have since added a title in 2010 and yesterday’s success.

Their latest triumph arrived after they staved off the challenge of a dogged Bishopstown outfit, who despite competing in their first ever final, showed no sign of nerves in the early stages and made the early running on the scoreboard.

Yet the critical score arrived in the 54th minute when Sarsfields attacker Robert O’Driscoll displayed the opportunism to find the net after great work by substitute Eoin O’Sullivan created the opening. That pushed Sarsfields into a 1-13 to 0-12 lead and despite Bishopstown substitute David Hickey raising a green flag in injury-time, Sarsfields had done enough to succeed.

Sarsfields had to come from behind to fashion this victory. They trailed by 0-6 to 0-3 after 17 minutes with Denis Crowley causing problems as the focal point of the Bishopstown attack and Cork senior Patrick Cronin also making an impact for the city club on the scoreboard.

Sarsfields were grateful to Cian McCarthy for keeping them in touch but they were still behind by 0-9 to 0-7 at the break after Bishopstown’s Michael Power grabbed the last point of the half.

The second-half action was keenly contested but gradually Sarsfields began to come to terms with the Bishopstown challenge and after Daniel Kearney tied the game at 0-12 apiece in the 45th minute, Cian McCarthy nudged them into the lead with a point a few minutes later.

Then came that O’Driscoll goal and entering injury-time, it was Sarsfields in the ascendancy at 1-15 to 0-13. Bishopstown threw everything at the Sarsfields rearguard in the dying moments but Hickey’s goal arrived too late to alter the outcome. Captain Joe Barry was able to lift the silverware for the team coached by club stalwart and 1999 All-Ireland senior winner Pat Ryan.

A colourful Sarsfields fan celebrates with the team after the game. Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

Sarsfields will now seek to make an impact in the Munster Club SHC after they were previously knocked out of the provincial club championship by Waterford outfit De La Salle in 2008 and 2010.

They have received a bye into the provincial semi-final on November 11th where they will face the winners of the quarter-final, between Limerick champions Kilmallock or the winners of the Tipperary decider between Thurles Sarsfields and Drom-Inch, which takes place on October 28th.

As It Happened: GAA senior club championship action