Stirring second-half comeback sees city side book place in quarter-finals

Liam Mellows 0-13Sarsfields 0-11

Mike McCartney

Liam Mellows’ team character was put to the test, and they passed the examination with flying colours on Sunday after it seemed at various stages its challenge was drifting with Sarsfields looking set to take their place in the driving seat.

At the end of the first quarter they trailed the former All-Ireland champions by 0-6 to 0-1 and again by five at the interval.

Despite playing into a strong wind after the restart, Sarsfields established a 0-10 to 0-6 lead but surprisingly only created a single point in the remainder of the half, with a minute of normal time remaining, reducing the difference to a minimum. However a John Hughes’ insurance point was enough to supply the city side with a safe passage to a meeting with Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry in the quarter-finals proper.

Five points from play by Aonghus Callanan provided the inspiration for a side that was licking its wounds following its defeat to Castlegar in the derby in the final group game. Shane Minton failed to overcome a shoulder injury while Paddy Gannon showed no ill effects of a recent back injury.

Meanwhile Sarsfields were forced to go without Ciaran Dolan due to an ankle injury, although he did join the game in the dying minutes in place of Sean Kelly with manager Pakie Cooney throwing everyone forward in an effort to at least snatch a draw.

Kerril Wade was on song with the opening score from a placed ball after two and a half minutes. Kieran Kelly set up Ronan Quinn for a second and when the Liam Mellows defence failed to clear Noel Kelly was on hand to split the posts.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.