Weakened Minors Show Excellent
Promise
Cullen Cup 20th January 2007: Adamstown 3-9,
Sarsfields 2-8:
Three first-half goals made all the difference as
Adamstown began the defence of their Martin Cullen Cup crown
with a hard-earned win over Sarsfields in Páirc Charman on
Sunday last.
The sides were evenly matched until Daryl O¹Rourke and Eoin
Cashin rattled the net in the 20th and 21st minutes
respectively, and the visitors went on to lead by 3-4 to 0-6
at half-time after Lorcan French added their third major.
After the sides shared four points in the third quarter,
Sarsfields were given hope when Seán Ó Corcora raced through
for a fine goal (3-6 to 1-8).
However, Adamstown kept their composure as P.J. Thorpe,
James Breen and Shane Bradley picked off points before
Stephen Gannon struck a late consolation goal from a
Sarsfields penalty. Breen starred at midfield for the
winners along with Michael Furlong, while netminder Johnny
Connors brought off a couple of crucial second-half saves.
P.J. Carroll, P.J. Thorpe, Shane Bradley and Lorcan French
also played well, while Sarsfields got sterling service from
Shane Barnes, Seán Ó Corcora, the Gannon brothers, Liam
Howlin, Tadhg Carley and Eoin Healy.
Adamstown: Johnny Connors; James Whelan, Eddie Connors, Liam
McDonald; Patrick Delaney, P.J. Carroll, James Delaney;
Michael Furlong, James Breen (0-1); P.J. Thorpe (0-2), Shane
Bradley (0-4, 3 frees), Daryl O¹Rourke (1-0); Conor Hickey,
Lorcan French (1-2, 0-1 free), Eoin Cashin (1-0).
Sarsfields: Jamie McMahon; Tomás Hore, Tadhg Carley, Alex
Lynch; Eoin Healy, Shane Barnes, Killian Lawlor; Seán Ó
Corcora (1-1), Paul Gannon (0-1); John Cummins, Noel Walsh,
Stephen Gannon (1-4, 1-0 pen., 0-3 frees); Liam Howlin
(0-2), Cormac Leddy, Seán Slaven. Sub. - Ian O¹Leary for
Slaven.
Referee: David Jenkins (Gusserane).
****
Byrne Cup 13th January 2007: Clongeen 2-7, Sarsfields
1-4:
Clongeen scored a six-points win over Sarsfields
(holders) in the Jim Byrne Cup quarter-final after a
rattling good game in Páirc Charman on Sunday morning last.
The exchanges were razor-sharp throughout between two sides
who played with great passion, and the eventual winners were
ahead by 1-4 to 1-1 at half-time. The vital score - a
Clongeen goal from Martin Delaney - came just 21 seconds
into the second period. Sarsfields continued to battle hard
to the very finish and came close several times to scoring.
Clongeen now meet neighbours Taghmon-Camross in a
mouth-watering semi-final in Fr. Wheeler Park on Sunday next
at 11.30 a.m. A very good Paudie Stafford, Enda Murphy,
Keith Reville and David Whelan were their best defenders,
Chris Cullen and Emmet Kent did well at midfield, while
Martin Delaney and Joe Casey were the shining lights up
front. Sarsfields were powered by a very good Seán Ó Corcora,
Noel Walsh, Alex Lynch, Eoin Healy, Paul Gannon and Tadhg
Carley.
Clongeen: Brendan Redmond; David Whelan, Enda Murphy, James
Curtis; Keith Reville, Paudie Stafford, Anton Stafford;
Chris Cullen (0-2), Emmet Kent (0-2); Tommy O¹Gorman (0-1),
Joe Casey (0-2), Martin Delaney (1-0); Shane Cahill, Jamie
O¹Grady, Shane Kilkenny (1-0). Sub. - Paddy Doyle for
O¹Gorman.
Sarsfields: Jamie McMahon; Conor Cuddihy, Tadhg Carley, Alex
Lynch; Eoin Healy, Shane Barnes, Killian Lawlor; Seán Ó
Corcora (capt., 0-1), Paul Gannon; Stephen Gannon (0-1),
Noel Walsh (1-1), John Cummins; Liam Howlin, Cormac Leddy,
Seán Slaven. Subs. - Tony Grace (0-1) for Slaven, Tomás Hore
for Healy, inj., Ian O¹Leary for Leddy, Lee Murphy for
Howlin, John Clancy for Cummins.
Referee: Willie Wickham (Ballyhogue).
****
Byrne Cup 6th January 2007 Sarsfields 4-4, Kilanerin/Tara
Rocks 3-4:
Down by eleven points at half-time (3-3 to 0-1), holders
Sarsfields had to pull out all the stops before they edged
through against a gallant Kilanerin/Tara Rocks combination
at Páirc Charman on Sunday last in the Jim Byrne Cup.
The Wicklow border boys were really on song in the opening
half, with Aidan Jones, Seánie Kinsella, Gavin O¹Toole,
Ciarán Allen, Cathal D¹Arcy, Michael Cullen and two-goal
Mark Boland in superb form. They also hit the first point
after the break, but it proved to be their last. Sarsfields
had squandered a number of chances before Seán Ó Corcora
gave them a huge lift with a superb goal, although they
still trailed by 3-4 to 1-3 entering the last quarter. The
champions never panicked but kept plugging away, and Noel
Walsh robbed the goalkeeper to tap in their second major in
the 48th minute. The club's winning start to their centenary
year was ensured in the closing minutes when Lee Murphy
grabbed two goals to secure their quarter-final spot.
Sarsfields had powerful performers in Seán Ó Corcora, Shane
Barnes, Tadhg Carley, Alex Lynch, Paul Gannon, John Cummins,
Noel Walsh and Murphy.
Sarsfields: Cormac Leddy; Alex Lynch, Tadhg Carley, Conor
Cuddihy; Eoin Healy, Shane Barnes, Killian Lawlor; Seán Ó
Corcora (1-1), Paul Gannon (0-1); John Cummins, Noel Walsh
(1-1), Stephen Gannon; Ian O¹Leary, Lee Murphy (2-1), Seán
Slaven. Subs. - Tomás Hore for Slaven, Tony Grace for
O¹Leary.
Kilanerin/Tara Rocks: Edward Hughes; Seán Owley, Seánie
Kinsella, Damien Furlong; Fergal O¹Connor, Aidan Jones
(1-0), Denis Jones; Cathal D¹Arcy (0-1), Gavin O¹Toole
(0-1); Michael Cullen, Ciarán Allen (0-1), Stephen Byrne
(0-1); Mark Boland (2-0), Niall Breen, Brian O¹Connor. Subs.
- Michael Quigley, Jamie Mordaunt.
Referee: James Mullally (Gusserane).
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