Sarsfields 1-11 ; Starlights 0-13:  

AFTER PAUL Murphy rescued Sarsfields with an equalising goal with the last kick in normal time, Lee Walker’s winning point at the death left them with a rare Senior success to celebrate in this ‘B’ championship decider against their bogey team, Starlights, in St. Patrick’sPark, Enniscorthy, on Saturday last. It was the club’sfirst victory in this grade since winning the title outright in 1984 and, while this achievement is a lot less significant, it still meant a lot to take home the Billy Keilthy Memorial Cup on the same weekend as the men of 25 years ago were honoured on county final day.

Starlights had won the last four meetings between the sides, including a 13-point pasting in mid-August, and they looked in a good position to repeat that trend at half-time when they only trailed by 0-3 to 0-2 after playing against the wind. Indeed, they created the two best goal chances but James Roice did well to keep out shots from Eamonn Furlong and Daithí O’Brien near the end of the first quarter. Warren Broaders and Jason Russell swapped the first two points, with Ciarán O’Leary and Paul Murphy then extending the Sarsfields lead before Ricky Fox hit back in the 28th minute.

While the impressive Andrew Moore widened the gap on the re-start, Starlights gradually edged clear even though Michael Hanrahan had their main marksman, John Hudson, in a vice-like grip. Daithí O’Brien and Tommy Foley (two, one free) pushed the Enniscorthy men into a 0-5 to 0-4 lead, with Paul Murphy replying in the 44th minute before his side lost their way. Indeed, points from Foley (two frees), Tomás Mahon and substitute Pa Doyle left Starlights with a 0-9 to 0-5 advantage midway through the last quarter.

Paul Murphy gave Sarsfields hope with a free with the seconds ticking away, and the talented Minor was the man of the moment nearly two and a half minutes into added time when he gathered a Warren Broaders handpass and coolly slotted the ball to the net past Lee Murphy. Referee James Mullally blew for full-time on the kick-out, and Sarsfields led by 1-8 to 0-10 after the first additional period as a Tomás Mahon point drew two responses from Ciarán O’Leary’s fist and a Paul Murphy free.

It could have gone either way, with free-takers Tommy Foley and Murphy swapping points before substitute Willie Hudson’sequaliser was followed by the lead score for Starlights from Tomás Mahon with two and a half minutes to go. Sarsfields finished strongly though, and Paul Murphy tapped over another free before Lee Walker turned on to his trusty left boot and fired over a superb winner just when a replay seemed likely.

Rory Murphy, Vice-Chairman of the County Board, presented the cup to David Gannon, and Sarsfields will now have some silverware to show off when national President, Christy Cooney, visits Páirc Charman on Sunday week next to open their new clubhouse.

Sarsfields: James Roice; Brendan Mulligan, Michael Hanrahan, Fran Cleary; Andrew Moore (0-1), Enda Whelan, Shane Barnes; David Mooney, Ciarán O’Leary (0-2); Paul Gannon, Seán Ó Corcora, Warren Broaders (0-1); David Gannon (capt.), Lee Walker (0-1), Paul Murphy (1-6, 0-4 frees). SUBS: Kevin Gore for P. Gannon, Peter Grannell for Cleary, inj.

Starlights: Lee Murphy; Tom Wall, Mark Gahan, Davy Morrissey; Mark Quigley, Shay Deegan, Cathal Murphy; Jason Russell (0-1), James Carty; Daithí O’Brien (0-1), Eamonn Furlong, Tomás Mahon (0-3); Ricky Fox (0-1), John Hudson (capt.), Tommy Foley (0-5, 4 frees). SUBS: Pa Doyle (0-1) for Furlong, Joe Cullen for Deegan, Rory O’Connor for O’Brien, Paul Byrne for Russell; in extra-time: Russell for Byrne, Willie Hudson (0-1) for Fox.

Referee: James Mullally (Gusserane).

Last Updated by
Kevin Carty