Sars driven by desire to avenge All-Ireland final heartache

“We've definitely taken learnings from that game as a collective. Management took a few new approaches to training. Some new guys coming onto the panel like Barry O’Flynn and Donal English have also brought a great sense of hunger. Coming back training after four or five weeks off, we just threw ourselves into it."

FINAL SEARCH: Bryan Murphy, Sarsfields, ahead of the Co Op Superstores 2025 Premier Senior Hurling Championship Semi Final, at SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

With Sars focus firmly fixed on reaching the final Cork championship game of the year, rewinding all the way back to their opening championship game of 2025 might seem a strange place to start our conversation with half-back Bryan Murphy.

Sars’ opening championship game of 2025, of course, was not their county championship opener at the beginning of August. It was the All-Ireland club final on January 19. A chastening Croke Park visit. A dream that quickly died.