Thurles Sars negotiate tricky challenge against Kilruane

Two goals down after four minutes, county champions Thurles Sarsfields recovered well to see off Kilruane MacDonaghs in the Tipperary senior hurling championship second round at Templemore yesterday. 

Goals by Cian Darcy and Brian O’Meara for Kilruane rocked the champions but they showed their mettle as they hit six points in as many minutes to level (0-7 to 2-1) after 11 minutes. A Pa Bourke goal after 25 minutes helped them to an interval lead of 1-13 to 2-5.

Kilruane cut the lead to a point towards the end of the third quarter but any time they were under threat, Sars had the capacity to pull away and scored the last four points of the game for a comfortable win. An injury to county panellist Aidan McCormack which forced his withdrawal in the second-half will be a worry for the champions who started without injured county man Michael Cahill.