Sars overcome Charleville to secure back-to-back Cork Division 1 hurling league titles

Minus their county senior player Jack O’Connor - as was Darragh Fitzgibbon absent for Charleville - Sars went about their business straight from the throw-in

BACK-TO-BACK: Sarsfields celebrate their league title win. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

Sarsfields 1-24 Charleville 1-15

Back-to-back RedFM Cork Division 1 hurling league titles for county champions Sarsfields at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday.

Minus their county senior player Jack O’Connor - as was Darragh Fitzgibbon absent for Charleville - they went about their business straight from the throw-in with midfielder Cian Darcy surging through the middle to fire their opening point after nine seconds.

It was a sign of things to come as they stormed ahead in the first quarter, and overall this was an excellent display from Johnny Crowley’s side who turned the tables on Charleville after they beat them in the group by six points.

The Denis Conroy Cup was secured way before the final whistle.

It was a strong start from the champions that had them up and running. Inside the first 10 minutes, they moved into a 0-5 to 0-3 lead. Paul Leopold, Daniel Hogan (free), James Sweeney and Daniel Kearney raising white flags.

Scores were that bit slower coming for Charleville, a superb effort from David Forde, one from Tim Hawe and an Andrew Cagney free left Charleville - managed by former Meath boss and Limerick native Seoirse Bulfin - trailing 0-9 to 0-5 shortly after the quarter hour mark.

Robert Carroll, Charleville, battles to stop the shot of Shane O'Regan, Sarsfields. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

Sarsfields were able to up the ante another notch and reeled off the next six points without reply. There were three Hogan frees and points from Sweeney, captain Conor O’Sullivan and Eoghan Murphy.

Their run also included a timely 30th minute goal from Shane O’Regan, his blistering shot enabled Sarsfields go the dressing-room 1-15 to 0-6 ahead - the green flag a score the north Cork side couldn’t recover from.

Sars well on top, considering too their seven wides to Charleville’s two, and the fact they could have registered another couple of goals in that opening half.

Points from David Forde, Conor Buckley and a Cagney free reduced the deficit upon the restart. However the initiative went straight back to Sarsfields with a pair of Hogan frees and a Colm McCarthy point.

The Riverstown club 1-20 to 0-12 to the good midway through the half.

A goal from sub DJ Collins after he latched onto a lengthy Alan Dennehy free that broke his way, helped Charleville to within eight.

Sarsfields, though, remained in control and were able to pick off points with more ease than their opponents.

As the rain came down, Ben Nodwell won a penalty in the closing minutes but Hogan’s shot was superbly saved by a diving Cian Collins.

Scorers for Sarsfields: D Hogan (0-10, 0-9 frees), S O’Regan (1-1), Colm McCarthy (0-3), C Darcy, J Sweeney and P Leopold (0-2 each), C O’Sullivan, E Murphy, D Kearney and B Nodwell (0-1 each).

Scorers for Charleville: A Cagney (0-5 frees), DJ Collins (1-0), D Forde (0-3, 0-2 frees), T Hawe and C Buckley (0-2 each), S Gleeson, D O’Riordan (free) and A Dennehy (0-1 each).

SARSFIELDS: D McCarthy; C O’Sullivan (Capt), K Crowley, C Roche; B Murphy, E Murphy, P Leopold; C Darcy, J O’Leary; D Kearney, D Hogan, J Sweeney; B Nodwell, Colm McCarthy, S O’Regan.

Subs: D Long for D Kearney (47), D English for K Crowley (55), E O’Sullivan for B Nodwell (57), D Roche for E Murphy (58), Cillian McCarthy for S O’Regan (59), K Walsh for C Roche (62).

CHARLEVILLE: C Collins; F Cagney, J Buckley (Capt), D Butler; O O’Connell, A Dennehy, R Carroll; D O’Flynn, D Casey; G Kelleher, A Cagney, C Buckley; J O’Brien, D Forde, T Hawe.

Subs: DJ Collins for J O’Brien (half-time), D O’Riordan for D Casey (45), M Kavanagh for G Kelleher (53), S Gleeson for O O’Connell (54), B O’Connell for R Carroll (62).

Referee: Ian McCarthy (Bandon).