Martin Daly tries to get through the Sarsfields defence. Photograph: Ruth Griffin.
A disappointing end to a momentous season for Feakle as they were eventually overpowered by a relentless Sarsfields to snatch a first ever Munster Senior Club Final place in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Sarsfields 1-25
Feakle 1-17
Venue: SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Despite losing their Cork crown in the county decider to divisional side Imokilly, Sars dusted themselves down and admirably unearthed a potent display of pace and power that saw the hosts complete a twelve point turnaround to bounce back to winning ways.
Overall, Feakle can have little complaints as Sarsfields had the edge on balance and were full of running and threat as evidenced most by nine different scorers.
Credit must be given to the Clare champions too though who despite starting perfectly with five of the first six points with the aid of a strong wind, would find themselves languishing by half-time after Aaron Myers’ goal had catapulted Sars into a 1-12 to 0-11 interval advantage with the conditions to come.
The East Clare side encouragingly dug their heels in though and would be level inside three minutes of the new half when an inspirational opening score from Eoin Tuohy was accentuated by an Eibhear Quilligan penalty.
Stemming from an Oisin Donnellan delivery that broke to the onrushing Shane McGrath, his shot would would be saved but would be aggressively swiped at in the build up by Conor O’Sullivan for a penalty that the goalkeeper cooly fired to the bottom right corner of the home net at 1-13 to 1-13.
While McGrath matched a Cathal McCarthy reply and Steven Conway, talisman McGrath and Eoin Tuohy managed to reel in the home side once more entering the final quarter at 1-17 to 1-17, Feakle simply couldn’t get their noses in front at any stage.
And having exerted such energy in keeping pace with Sars, they had little left in the tank when the Cork side found another gear coming down the final straight.
That Sars hit the last eight points through man-of-the-match Myers (3), county senior Jack O’Connor (2), Colm McCarthy, Cathal McCarthy and substitute Shane O’Regan wasn’t a true reflection of an exciting contest throughout.
Captain Oisin Donnellan (2), Shane McGrath (2) and Oisin O’Connor set a scorching early pace to soar 0-5 to 0-1 clear after only eight minutes. However, the visitors failed to sustain that intensity and only scored a solitary point for the next twelve minutes by which time an Aaron Myers and Cathal McCarthy led Sarsfields were four clear.
A 1-3 unanswered burst entering the second quarter proved decisive for a Sars side that had hit nine wides, with Myers raiding for 1-2 including a pulled goal in the 18th minute after momentarily losing control of the ball end route to goal at 1-7 to 0-6.
With their foot on Feakle’s throats, it took two superb Eibhear Quilligan saves to keep Sars at bay as first he went full length to keep out a Myers shot before tipped a subsequent Luke Elliott effort just over the bar.
Oisin Donnellan did have a glorious chance to repair the damage just before the break after getting in behind Sars’ last line but didn’t ultimate realize that he had time to pick the ball as his pull went straight at goalkeeper Ben Graham.
True to form, Feakle showed tremendous spirit in a character filled third quarter but would be powerless to prevent the Cork side from firing the last eight points and booking their spot in a Munster Final against a four-in-a-row chasing Ballygunner on Sunday week.
Scorers for Sarsfields: Aaron Myers 1-6; Daniel Hogan 0-6 (5f, 1’65); Cathal McCarthy, Jack O’Connor 0-4 each; Paul Leopold, Daniel Kearney, Luke Elliott, Colm McCarthy, Shane O’Regan 0-1 each
Scorers for Feakle: Shane McGrath 0-7 (6f); Oisin Donnellan 0-3; Eibhear Quilligan 1-0 (Pen); Steven Conway 0-3; Eoin Tuohy 0-2; Oisin O’Connor, Enda Noonan 0-1 each
Sarsfields
1: Ben Graham
4: Paul Leopold
6: Eoghan Murphy
2: Conor O’Sullivan
5: Bryan Murphy
20: Cillian Roche
7: Luke Elliott
22: Cathal McCarthy
14: Colm McCarthy
9: Daniel Kearney
11: Daniel Hogan
8: Cian Darcy
23: Aaron Myers
10: James Sweeney
13: Jack O’Connor
Subs
15: Shane O’Regan for Sweeney (49)
28: Eoin O’Sullivan for Kearney (56)
3: Craig Leahy for Elliott (57)
Feakle
1: Eibhear Quilligan
4: Oisin Clune
5: Adam Hogan
3: Eoghan Daly
2: Killian Bane
6: Conn Smyth
9: Eoin Tuohy
7: Ronan O’Connor
11: Enda Noonan
10: Oisin Donnellan
8: Shane McGrath
14: Steven Conway
15: Oisin O’Connor
12: Martin Daly
13: Packie Daly
Subs
17: Raymond Bane for P. Daly (48)
22: Owen McGann for O. O’Connor (51)
20: Fiachra Donnellan for M. Daly (60)
26: Ger Hanrahan for Noonan (60)
18: Enda Madden for K. Bane (61)
Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford)
