Padraic Maher leads powerful Thurles Sarsfields to four in a row

Borris-Ileigh 0-11 Thurles Sarsfields 1-24: It’s no accident that Thurles Sarsfields collected a fourth Tipperary SHC title in a row yesterday in Semple Stadium.

Clinical forward play, the game’s dominant personality in captain Padraic Maher, and a professional attitude from start to finish combined to give them an easy win over inexperienced challengers Borris-Ileigh.

Conor Stakelum’s opportunist goal on 45 minutes — the very definition of a poacher’s score — was the nail in the Borris coffin, but Sars’ name was on the trophy long before that.