Sarsfields 2-15 Lixnaw 3-8: Tipperary champions Sarsfields struggled to see off the challenge from Lixnaw of Kerry at Semple Stadium yesterday in a game that was much closer than expected.

When Sarsfields scored goals through Larry Corbett and Ger "Redser" O'Grady, it looked as though as a rout was on the cards. They led by 2-5 to 0-1 at the end of the first quarter. Lixnaw's Michael Conway bagged a goal in the 23rd minute from a penalty and at half-time they trailed by four points, 2-6 to 1-5.

Conway had two more goals, the second through another penalty, by the end of the third quarter but Sarsfields were putting over points throughout the half to ensure they always had the advantage.

SARSFIELDS: P McCormack; T Connolly, G Mernagh, L Shanahan; E Enright, B Carroll, J Lawlor; J Corbett (0-1), W Culley (0-2); G O'Grady (1-1), S Ryan (0-1), J Enright (0-5); R Ruth (0-1), L Corbett (1-2), S Mason (0-1). Subs: S Lillis for Connolly, P Burke (0-1) for Ryan, P Lawlor for Mason, A Dundon for Ruth, D O'Dwyer for O Grady.

LIXNAW: E Thornton; P Donnelly, M McCarthy, P Corridan; P Lyons, T McKenna, C Allen; E Fitzmaurice, J Griffin; P Galvin (0-1), E Galvin, F Fitzmaurice; P O Connell, M Conway (3-7), C Fitzmaurice; Subs: T Brosnan for Lyons; R Thornton for C Fitzmaurice;

Referee: P O'Connor (Limerick).