Sarsfields can edge tight All-Ireland Club SHC final affair 

Sarsfields' Liam Healy and Luke Elliott celebrate. Pic: Ben Brady/Inpho

AIB All-Ireland Club SHC final

Na Fianna (Dublin) v Sarsfields (Cork), Croke Park 1.30pm (L. Gordon, Galway) Live TG4.

The case for making Na Fianna favourites is just as strong as deeming Sarsfields are primed to become the first Cork All-Ireland senior champions in 21 years. If the tactical nous and pace of Sarsfields are factors then the Dublin and Leinster winners’ familiarity with Croke Park has to be too. 

That and the fact they have given fine accounts of themselves the two times they have played there over the last 13 months, losing to O’Loughlin Gaels in the 2023 Leinster final before making amends in last month’s showdown with Kilcormac-Killoughey. 

We have written before about how strong the spine of their team is and we must stress it again. Few knit defences together as well as Liam Rushe and Donal Burke is due a massive game. Sarsfields, though, have had plenty of time to realise their best chance is to work away from those strengths. 

The size of the playing surface and the quality of it fall into their barrow. Jack O’Connor has performed notably in Croke Park before and he can do so again. If it becomes a physical game, Sarsfields have the large frames of Luke Elliott and James Sweeney. In a way, they would remind you of Kyle Hayes and Gearóid Hegarty and both have engines to complement their bulk. 

Deploying Sweeney at the edge of the square didn’t work so great for Sarsfields against Slaughtneil the last day but he has been a great focal point and can also be a genuine puck-out target. 

General expectations about this duel should be fulfilled – it will be tight. In beating Ballygunner, Sarsfields were king-slayers. Now they can claim another throne for themselves. 

Verdict: Sarsfields.

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