Sars survive Killeagh rally

RELIEF on the Sarsfields side that they somehow managed to win a game they appeared set to leave slip through their hands contrasted with a deep sense of frustration among Killeagh players and supporters that they missed out on a quarter-final place in the Evening Echo Cork SHC in Midleton on Sunday evening.

The fact is that having led 0-7 to 0-2 after 19 minutes, Sars were starting to struggle in the face of an admirably spirited Killeagh recovery even before they had midfielder Gavin O’Loughlin red-carded in the 43rd minute. Ten minutes later, able substitute Larry Collins had Killeagh deservedly on level terms and, for a while a replay looked the likely outcome until Cian McCarthy hit over some vital scores for the Glanmire side.

The early stages of the game were dominated by Sarsfields, who led by three points after six minutes play. They settled down to dominate in defence – where it helped that Ray Ryan was a ‘loose’ man after Mark Landers was withdrawn to play a sweeper role behind the Killeagh midfield – and they offered much more in attack.