Sarsfields rue slow start as Loughrea finish top of group

Sarsfields 0-11

Ivan Smyth in Duggan Park

A poor start by Sarsfields proved costly as Loughrea secured a comfortable victory in a game which never sparked in to life. These local rivals have produced some excellent games down through the years with one score separating the sides in three of their last four championship encounters.

However, with both teams already through to the quarter finals, the only thing to be decided was which team would finish top of the group.

Loughrea were the better side throughout as Sarsfields failed to register a score until the 23rd minute. Both camps used this game to experiment with 2015 county champions Sarsfields deciding to use a one-man full-forward line for much of the opening half.

Mark O’Regan was left isolated as the Loughrea defence outnumbered the diminutive forward, although Sarsfields did rectify this when they poured more bodies forward but they came up against a committed Loughrea defence.

Mike Ryan’s Loughrea dominated the early stages as Joe Mooney opened the scoring before a Jamie Ryan free and a Neil Keary effort pushed them three points ahead.

Sarsfields were struggling to create any momentum in attack as Mooney struck a long-range score before his midfield partner Dylan Shaughnessy added another.

Loughrea were allowing their opponents to take short puckouts with Sarsfields trying to implement a running game. However, their opponents clogged the middle third and forced turnovers throughout the opening half.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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