Sport

Sarsfields' experience gets them through in the end

MUNSTER SHC SEMI-FINAL Thurles Sarsfields 2-10 Kilmallock 0-11: RED-HOT favourites Thurles Sarsfields side got a bit of a fright…

Mon Nov 15 2010 - 00:00

MUNSTER SHC SEMI-FINAL Thurles Sarsfields 2-10 Kilmallock 0-11:RED-HOT favourites Thurles Sarsfields side got a bit of a fright early on and turned over level at the interval in Kilmallock.

Hurler of the year Lar Corbett had a very subdued first half but struck for the crucial opening goal early in the second period.

Kilmallock will regret their big tally of 13 wides – five in the first half – compared to only six for Thurles, who had three in each half but their experience told in the second period during which Kilmallock managed to score only five points.

The low-scoring opening half ended 0-6 apiece after they were level four times. Andrew O’Shaughnessy gave Kilmallock the start they needed with a pointed free and John Enright did likewise for Thurles Sarfields.

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Thurles Sarfields reorganised their side and game plan for the second half with Corbett moving to full forward. But when Kilmallock scored the opening point, a huge effort from 70 yards by Eoin Ryan, it looked as if this might inspire the home side.

Within four minutes of the restart Kilmallock held a two-point lead, 0-9 to 0-7, and an upset was a possibility. But Corbett nipped in for a decisive goal after 36 minutes when he was given possession by Denis Maher and the ball trickled through the legs of Kilmallock keeper Barry Hennessy.

Thurles struck for their second goal seven minutes from the end. A powerful shot by Denis Maher was brilliantly saved by Hennessy but he was given no chance when substitute Michael O’Brien blasted into the net to make it 2-9 to 0-10.

An O’Shaughnessy free narrowed the gap but O’Brien had the final point for Thurles.

Kilmallock brought in Kevin Kennelly for O’Shaughnessy three minutes from the end but he was in action for just over a minute when he was shown a straight red card for a dangerous pull on Pádraic Maher who was the outstanding player on view.

Michael O’Brien made a huge impact as a substitute and Denis Maher was a constant threat to Kilmallock defenders in which Philip O’Loughlin was superb with good assistance from Gavin O’Mahoney and Bryan O’Sullivan but their forwards disappointed.

THURLES SARSFIELDS: P McCormack; David Maher, K OGorman, B O'Dwyer; D Kennedy, P Maher, M Cahill; A Kennedy, M Gleeson; S Lillis, L Corbett (1-0), Denis Maher (0-1), J Enright (0-2, frees), P Burke, (0-5, 0-3 65s, 0-1 free), R Ruth. Subs: A McCormack (0-1)for O'Dwyer (half-time), M O'Brien (1-1)for A Kennedy (47 mins), JJ Burke for Enwright (53 mins).

KILMALLOCK: B Hennessy; L Hurley, P O'Loughlin, K O'Mahony; L Walshe, G O'Mahony, B O'Sullivan; E Ryan (0-2), P O'Brien (0-1); P ODwyer, S O'Donnnell (0-1), G OSullivan; G Mulcahy (0-2), A O'Shaughnessy (0-5, frees), J Mulcahy. Subs: K O'Donnell for G O'Sullivan (48 mins), K Kennelly for O'Shaughnessy (56 mins).

Referee: M Wadding(Waterford).