A season that promised so much ended in the ultimate disappointment
on Sunday last when our Senior team were comprehensively beaten
by Starlights in the county final. It was a game in which our
lads never got into and it was obvious from the very early stages
of the game that the free flowing football that we had produced
in all games throughout the season was not happening and that
we were struggling in many areas of the pitch where we would previously
have dominated. Indeed, had it not been for some fine goalkeeping
by James Roice and some woeful shooting by the Enniscorthy men,
the final result could have been much worse.
That being said, we did have a chance to claw our way back into
a game we probably had no right to when, in the 15th minute of
the second half while trailing by 5 points, we were awarded a
penalty for a foul on Barry Goff. Unfortunately Philly Cullen's
shot was well saved by the Starlights goalie and with that went
our chance of victory. There is no doubting that on the day the
Starlights were by far the better team and that they were courteous
in their victory but one incident that cannot go unmentioned is
the callous and cowardly assault on right half back, Niall Sheil,
by a Starlights player. Niall ended up with a broken cheekbone
as a result of the unprovoked blind-side attack and is currently
awaiting an operation in Dublin to fit a plate and rebuild his
cheek. It is our fervent hope that Niall fully recovers to once
again don the Sarsfields jersey and that the perpetrator is brought
to justice for this despicable act.
Despite this defeat there is every reason to look forward with
this panel of players. With the exception of a few of the more
senior players, this is a very young team and with further talent
coming through coupled with the hopeful return from injury and
suspension of Darren Browne, Enda Whelan, Donnacha Doyle and Jason
Murphy there is no reason why the team should not be back next
year to once again challange for that elusive title.
Na Sáirséalaigh
Abú
