Sarsfields do the heavy lifting in opening-half of derby clash
Sarsfields 1-17
Loughrea 2-12
JUST when their season was threatening to unravel, Sarsfields struck back at Duggan Park on Saturday to book their place in the senior hurling championship knock-out stages.
Cathal Murray’s side suffered a heavy 1-24 to 0-14 loss to Gort two weeks previously and it wasn’t looking any better when Loughrea’s Brian Keary flicked a fourth minute delivery to the net.
But led by Niall Morrissey’s free taking and Joseph Cooney’s towering display at centre back, they hit six unanswered points to take control before Noel Kelly’s 31st minute goal gave them extra comfort.
It finished with just a two-point victory as Johnny Coen netted from a late Loughrea free and Mike Ryan’s charges will be under pressure, not guaranteed their place in the final 14 just yet.
After hitting five late points to beat Portumna, Loughrea started brightly leading 1-1 to 0-1 after four minutes. Jamie Ryan tapped over a Loughrea free before Niall Morrissey responded. But Loughrea struck the first big blow.
Coen held off pressure to send a ball towards the town goal in Ballinasloe. Keary timed his touch, enough to turn the ball away from Ciaran Dolan and into the top corner of the net.
With both teams coming in on two wins from three assignments, there was no overstating the importance of this fixture. And needless to say, it was also a crossroads in Sarsfields’ season.
Two impressive wins in April had them top before the inter-county break but the pressure was on and the 2015 champions found a way to respond.
Alan Ward converted on six minutes to start the comeback while Morrissey’s free taking was superb as he sent over two placed balls to level at 0-4 to 1-1. And the two players combined for Morrissey to score from play, giving Sarsfields the lead on 11 minutes.
Jeffrey Lawless got involved, setting up Morrissey for another before captain Noel Kelly split the posts on 17 minutes giving Sarsfields a 0-7 to 1-1 advantage.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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