Erins Own great escape

Erins Own 1-15, Sarsfields 0-18

Trailing by a point deep into injury-time in the Permanent Tsb Cork County Senior Championship, a Sars man getting treatment and goalkeeper Shay Bowen anxious to take the vital free, there was plenty of distraction.

However, Murphy remained unperturbed and from well inside his own 65 powered home a screamer that sailed between the posts.

Erins Own had saved the day, pulling off one of the great escapes in the championship, leaving Sars, who had led by six points with 10 minutes remaining and in control, devastated.

Yes, Sars were hit by a fine 51st minute goal from Mick Dunne, but when Tony O’Keeffe was sent off soon afterwards victory looked a formality for the Riverstown men, the derby sewn up and a place in the Cork SHC quarter-finals assured.

But how Erins Own responded. Finding a new urgency they came at Sars as another Murphy free and then Sean Dunne and Fergus Murphy from play, left just a point between the sides.

Twice Shane Murphy had the opportunity to level matters, twice he failed narrowly until that golden strike from Kieran Murphy earned Erins Own a draw they never looked like achieving.

Sars were devastated with coach Teddy McCarthy saying: “We folded in the final quarter, too many balls came out too easily when we were in good positions. We lost our shape against the 14 men but, overall, while I am disappointed, we didn’t play badly and I thought we got some good scores.”

Erins Own coach Barry Murphy was breathless but relieved: “We were in big trouble and at one stage it looked like being just a damage limitation exercise. Sars were playing so well. The way the lads responded though, after Tony was sent off, was unbelievable. In fairness, Sars were the better team on the night but in hurling anything can happen,” he said.

Certainly, on the night, Sars were the better combination. They had better all round balance and once again Pat Ryan was terrific in midfield. He was everywhere, tidying up, setting up an amount of attacks and scoring two fine points. But, overall, the standard of hurling was poor enough, too many petty frees spoiling what looked like being a cracker.

Good scoring in the opening five minutes, Garvan McCarthy and Rory Duggan pointing for Sars and Kieran and Fergus Murphy replying for Erins Own but, as the game developed, too much tension crept in and, consequently, the hurling suffered.

Duggan put Sars back into the lead with a free only for Kieran Murphy to equalise again but Sars looked sharper and quicker to the ball. With Ryan and Tadg Óg Lynch in control at midfield they led 0-5 to 0-4 after the opening quarter.

Pat Ryan increased their lead with a mighty point and by the 24th minute, playing with far more urgency, they had powered 0-9 to 0-5 ahead. Fergus Murphy, easily Erins Own’s best forward, reduced the gap but a couple of late points from John Murphy earned Sars a 0-11 to 0-6 interval lead they fully deserved.

Again there was a scoring start when the contest resumed. John Murphy, Duggan with a free and Garvan McCarthy on target for Sars, with Kieran Murphy from a free and Mark O’Connor, with a super effort, replying for Erins Own. But with Ryan in terrific form in the centre of the park, Sars were well in control.

Erins Own were in big trouble, trailing 0-16 to 0-10 entering the final quarter and it was hard to see where improvement was going to come from.

But then came the goal, the sending off, the brilliant response and the Glounthaune men were back in the championship. Things change quickly in hurling, Sars took their foot off the gas and could well have paid an even bigger penalty.

Scorers for Erins Own: K. Murphy 0-7 (0-6 frees), F. Muphy 0-4, M. Dunne 1-1, S. Dunne 0-2, M. O’Connor 0-1.

Sarsfields; J. Murphy 0-7 (0-3 frees), G. McCarthy, R. Duggan (0-3 frees) 0-4 each, P. Ryan 0-2, R. Ryan 0-1.

ERINS OWN: S. Bowen; T. O’Keeffe, S. Murphy, C. O’Connor; T. Kelleher, P. Kelly, R. Ahern; M. O’Connor, B. Murphy; A. Lane, K. Murphy, F. Murphy; S. Dunne, M. Dunne, M. Buckley.

Subs: K. Murphy for B. Murphy, P. Fitzgerald for Lane.

SARSFIELDS: P. Gahan; B. McCarthy, C. McCarthy, J. Barry; C. Kennedy, K. Goggin, N. O’Sullivan; T. Og Lynch, P. Ryan; R. Murphy, G. McCarthy, R. Ryan; J. Murphy, K. Murphy, R. Duggan.

Sub: J. O’Connor for Duggan.

Referee: D. O’Leary (Cloughduv).