Thurles Sarsfields 0-27
Éire Óg Annacarty 0-18
Shane Brophy reports from Semple Stadium
CHASING THEIR FOURTH Dan Breen Cup in a row, holders Thurles Sarsfields eased into the Tipperary senior hurling final following a comfortable win over Eire Og Annacarty at Semple Stadium today.
Already large underdogs, Eire Og went into the game without suspended former Tipp defender Conor O’Brien and current Tipp panellist Tom Fox was forced to play through the pain barrier.
Thurles weren’t about to show any mercy and after the sides were level after three minutes, they reeled off the next eleven points by the quarter hour with Aidan McCormack to the fore with four from play.
After 21 minutes, Sarsfields led by 13 points before Éire Óg began to find some rhythm with Ronan O’Brien hitting three points from play and Tipp goalie Daragh Mooney nailing four long range frees to cut the deficit to nine by the break, 0-18 to 0-9.
Éire Óg stuck gamely to their task with Ronan O’Brien superb finishing with six points from play but the second half was played in a challenge match atmosphere.
Thurles knew they had the job done with Stephen Cahill and John Maher effective, while they could afford to empty their bench and Lar Corbett didn’t get a run.
Annacarty finished the game with fourteen men after Tom Fox picked up his second yellow card late on while substitute Rory Purcell and Billy McCarthy rounded off a 12 player scoring contribution for Sarsfields.
They now progress to meet Borris-Ileigh in the final on Sunday 8 October.
Scorers for Thurles Sarsfields: Pa Bourke 0-9 (0-7f), Aidan McCormack 0-5 (0-1f), Ronan Maher, John Maher, Rory Purcell 0-2 each, Denis Maher, Stephen Maher, Michael Cahill, Stephen Lillis, Stephen Cahill, Billy McCarthy, Conor Stakelum 0-1 each.
Scorers for Éire Óg: Ronan O’Brien 0-6; Daragh Mooney 0-5 (0-5f), Seanie Ryan 0-3 (0-2f), Tom Fox, Brian Fox, Donal O’Dwyer, Connie Bradshaw 0-1 each.
Thurles Sarsfields
Paddy McCormack
Stephen Maher
Cathal Moloney
Michael Cahill
Ronan Maher
Padraic Maher
Stephen Lillis
Stephen Cahill
John Maher
Aidan McCormack
Billy McCarthy
Pa Bourke
Conor Lanigan
Denis Maher
Conor Stakelum
Subs
Michael O’Brien for Denis Maher (half-time)
Rory Dwan for Lillis (42)
Tommy Doyle for S Cahill (47)
Rory Purcell for J Maher (55)
Mossy McCormack for Stakelum (60)
Éire Óg Annacarty
Daragh Mooney
Diarmuid Ryan
Eoin Bradshaw
Dan Hogan
Stephen O’Brien
Brian Fox
Paidi O’Dwyer
Michael O’Brien
Tom Fox
Paul Downey
Kevin Fox
Ronan O’Brien
Dinny Crosse
Donal O’Dwyer
Seanie Ryan
Subs
Pat Aherne for M O’Brien (42)
Connie Bradshaw for Crosse (46)
Referee: Michael Murphy (Toomevara)
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