Murphys switch so smooth for Sarsfields

Sarsfields 2-12 Na Piarsaigh 0-9

On a night not conducive to good hurling, the Glanmire side were full value for their nine-point victory while Piarsaigh must now play Delanys in a northside relegation semi-final.

Sars coach John Barry made a master move by starting county senior Kieran Murphy at midfield and switching Tadhg Óg Murphy to corner-forward.

The former revelled in the open spaces while Tadhg Óg was simply devastating in his corner berth, contributing 2-2 from play.

Defensively, Sars were excellent. They soaked up enormous pressure in the closing 10 minutes and enjoyed a slice of good luck when John Gardiner’s long-range free came back off the upright before being cleared by goalkeeper Donal O’Rourke at a time when the city side were five points down.

Piarsaigh were hugely disappointing and have fallen a long way from the heights of two years ago when they were crowned county champions.

They lacked leadership and on the evidence of this game, will find it difficult to stop the rot.

Aided by the wind, Sars had the perfect start with three points in as many minutes, two by the busy Pat Ryan from placed balls, and their early dominance was reflected by the four wides they had in the same period.

The greasy underfoot conditions made ball control difficult, but with so much at stake, there was a great edge to the game. Piarsaigh recovered well from their poor start and points by the O’Sullivans, Stephen P and Stephen R, left them just one adrift by the end of the opening quarter.

Sars continued to shoot the wides — three-in-a-row — before Michael Cussen missed a great goal chance when with only the ‘keeper to beat his shot hopped over the bar.

Piarsaigh also had a number of bad misses, the worst of them by Stephen P O’Sullivan who shot wide from five metres.

Following the early flurry of points, they scores dried up and Sars went 16 minutes without adding to their tally while Stephen P O’Sullivan added a point for Piarsaigh in the 31st minute — their first for 20 minutes, and at the break Sars led 0-4 to 0-3.

Sars began the second half in whirlwind fashion, knocking over three points in a row. Na Piarsaigh’s Ronan McGregor began to hurl with a bit more authority around the middle and he soloed 50 metres before pointing to leave two between the sides by the end of the third quarter.

Then came the first goal for Sars as Tadgh Óg Murphy’s strike dropped over the head of Mark O’Sullivan. When Michael Cussen added a point Sarsfields, hurling with far more passion and purpose, were never going to be caught.

Piarsaigh moved Seán Óg Ó hAilpín to midfield and John Gardiner to attack but to no avail as the Sars defence, with Kevin Goggin and Brian McCarthy outstanding, held firm, also saving a 20 metre free from Gardiner.

With their defence giving away far too many frees, Pat Ryan’s excellent accuracy edged Sars six points clear before Tadhg Óg Murphy finished Ryan’s long delivery to the net.

Scorers for Sarsfields: T Óg Murphy 2-2; P Ryan 0-6 (frees); M Cussen 0-2; G O’Loughlin, J Murphy 0-1 each.

Scorers for Na Piarsaigh: SP O’Sullivan 0-3; E Nodwell (frees), T Ó hAilpín 0-2 each; SR O’Sullivan, R McGregor 0-1 each.

SARSFIELDS: D O’Rourke; P O’Flynn, P Roche, J Barry; R Ryan, K Goggin, B McCarthy; K Murphy, P Ryan; P Barry, R Murphy, N O’Sullivan; G O’Loughlin, M Cussen, T Óg Murphy.

Subs: C O’Sullivan for Roche; J Murphy for O’Sullivan.

NA PIARSAIGH: M O’Sullivan; D Mannix, R Byrnes, D Murphy; J Gardiner, D Gardiner, S Óg Ó hAilpín; M Prendergast, R McGregor; C O’Sullivan, T Ó hAilpín, SR O’Sullivan; D Walsh, SP O’Sullivan, C O’Mahony.

Subs: E Nodwell for Walsh; S Guiheen for O’Mahony; D Hannifin for C O’Sullivan.

Referee: D Copps (Ballyhea).