Kilanerin 1-15 Sarsfields 0-14:  

KILANERIN WITHSTOOD a strong second-half surge from Sarsfields before they eventually emerged with a four-point victory from this highly-entertaining WFC Senior football championship opening round Group C  game at Wexford Park on Saturday last.

Ultimately victory went the Kilanerin way as they showed more composure at crucial periods, but Sarsfields can still take a lot from this initial outing, particularly their second-half showing when they created sufficient chances to have sprung a surprise. Over-eagerness, wayward finishing, and a tendency to seek out goals at a vital period when points would have handed them the initiative came back to haunt them in the end.

Sarsfields sprang a surprise of their own before the game with the omission of star attacker Paul Murphy. However, he was introduced to the game ten minutes before the break, and while he had only 40 minutes he still ignited the town side’s recovery with some excellent points both from play and frees. He was the instigator of most of his team’s attacking moves, particularly through their opening 20 minutes of dominance on the resumption.

Sarsfields took the lead after two minutes with a fine Philip Cullen point, but 60 seconds later, Matty Forde had the sides level from a free, having shot a similar effort wide in the opening minute. Two further Forde pointed frees, with a Mick Molloy effort in between, had Kilanerin leading by 0-4 to 0-1 after nine minutes.

Sarsfields bounced back one minute later, with Lee Walker putting Philip Cullen in space, only for the corner-forward’s effort to be excellently pushed away by ‘keeper Tom Hughes for a fruitless ‘45. Almost immediately, Sarsfields bounced back with points from a Cullen free and Kevin Gore, to leave the minimum separating the sides (0-4 to 0-3) after 13 minutes.

Kilanerin through the accuracy of Matty Forde, Tommy Boland and Bobby Hughes went on to lead by 0-10 to 0-5 at the interval, with the Sarsfields’ two remaining points coming from Kevin Gore and substitute Paul Murphy.

But in the second-half it was a much-improved Sarsfields display, with David Mooney commanding in defence, and with Andy Moore winning lots of midfield possession, while the striking runs of Jason Murphy, Paul Murphy and Warren Broaders began to tear holes in the Kilanerin defence.

Points from Jason and Paul Murphy hauled the Sars right back into the game, and while a Matty Forde pointed free momentarily lifted the pressure, Sarsfields who were now playing the quality attacking football as they struck back for points from Warren Broaders, Jason Murphy, Fran Cleary and a Philip Cullen goalbound shot that was excellently tipped over by ‘keeper Tom Hughes, leaving the sides level on 0-11 each at the end of the third quarter.

After John Hegary and Paul Murphy from a free had exchanged points, it looked as if Sarsfields were capable of causing the first upset of the championship, but then it was the experience of Kilanerin that came to the forefront. They struck back for points from Matty Forde (free) and Mark Gethings, while Peter Hughes finished splendidly to the net, having been put through by an excellent Forde ball inside the defence with four minutes remaining. Although Paul Murphy tagged on two pointed frees, Kilanerin secured the victory through a Bobby Hughes point in additional time.

Kilanerin: Tom Hughes; Denis Jones, Colm Kavanagh, Aidan Jones; Mark Gethings (0-1), Pat Forde, Brian Hughes; Bobby Hughes (0-3), Jim Hughes; J.P. Connolly, Peter Hughes (1-1), Tommy Boland (capt., 0-1); Mick Molloy (0-1), Matty Forde (0-6, 5 frees), John Hegarty (0-1). SUB: Gavin O'Toole for Connolly.

Sarsfields: Adam Doyle; Brendan Mulligan, Michael Hanrahan, Dean Murphy; Fran Cleary (0-1), David Mooney, Paul Gannon; Noel Walsh, Andy Moore; Jason Murphy (0-2), Kevin Gore (capt., 0-2), Warren Broaders (0-1); Philip Cullen (0-3, 1 free), Lee Walker, Ciarán O'Leary. SUB: Paul Murphy (0-5, 3 frees) for Gannon, Leigh Smith for Walsh.

Referee: Nicholas Kehoe (Cloughbawn).

Last Updated by
Kevin Carty