Clinical Sarsfields sweep to Cork senior hurling title

Sarsfields 2-18 Glen Rovers 0-8

Sarsfields swept to their sixth Cork senior hurling championship title and their fourth in seven seasons with a surprisingly comfortable victory over an outplayed Glen Rovers in front of a crowd of 12,925 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday.

It was the last hurling final to be played at the venue before the planned redevelopment, but, because of its one-sided nature, the 2014 version will hardly be regarded as one of the most memorable.

Effectively, the tie was over as a contest at half-time, when Sars led by 1-10 to 0-3 and the pattern continued on the resumption before referee Nathan Wall finally ended the Glen’s misery. Their 25-year wait for a county continues.

The difference between the sides was reflected in Sars’ opening goal after just seven minutes. Daniel Roche’s delivery was caught by Cian McCarthy and in the twinkling of an eye he linked with Kieran Murphy to set-up captain Tadhg Óg Murphy for a simple goal.

Middle third

Sars completely dominated the critical middle third where

Daniel Kearney

was a central figure in front of a commanding half-back line with Ray Ryan an authoritative number six. It meant a regular supply of ball inside and Sars duly profited.

Gavin O’Loughlin and McCarthy kept the scoreboard ticking along as the Glen attack could make little headway, the Sars defence restricting Patrick Horgan to a solitary free in the period. The Cork star finished with five pointed frees but it was the third consecutive game in which he was unable to score from play.

Four unanswered points on the resumption tightened Sars’s grip on proceedings and after 40 minutes their lead had stretched to 1-14 to 0-5. Horgan’s free-taking was the Glen’s only response and a second goal in the 52nd minute persuaded many in the crowd to head for the exits.

It came from a cross on the left by substitute Michael Cussen into the danger zone, where Kieran Murphy won possession and bundled the ball over the goal line to make it 2-16 to 0-7.

Sars, whose previous titles in recent times came in 2012, 2010 and 2008, could afford to empty their bench in the closing stages before savouring another much-coveted success with their supporters. SARSFIELDS: A Kennedy; W Kearney, C Leahy, C O'Sullivan; D Roche, R Ryan, E Martin; D Kearney (0-1), E Quigley; C McCarthy (0-10 from frees), G O'Loughlin (0-3), C Duggan; E O'Sullivan (0-2), K Murphy (1-1), T Óg Murphy, captain, (1-1). Subs: M Cussen for Duggan (34 mins), R Duggan for Quigley (50 mins), G Grey for K Murphy (54 mins), R Murphy for O'Sullivan (55 mins). GLEN ROVERS: C Hickey; D Dooling, S McDonnell, G Moylan; D Noonan, B Moylan, G Callanan, captain, (0-1); D Cronin (0-1), C Healy; D Brosnan, D Cunningham, D Busteed; C Dorris (0-1), P Horgan (0-5 from frees), G Kennefick. Subs: B Phelan for Busteed and P Virgo for Kennefick (half-time), S Kennefick for Noonan (39 mins), D Goggin for Brosnan (54 mins), E O'Connell for Virgo injured (56 mins). Referee: N Wall (Cork)