Ulster Junior Hurling Championship
Sarsfields 1-13
Swatragh 1-22
At Dunsilly
SARSFIELDS bowed out of the Ulster Championship in fighting spirit as they succumb to a nine-point defeat to Derry champions Swatragh on Saturday afternoon.
The Paddies found themselves chasing the game from the outset, with Swatragh making the brighter start as Conor Murray opened the scoring inside the first minute before Eoghan O’Kane and James Friel added to their advantage.
Fintan McGurk stretched the lead with a close-range effort in the seventh minute, leaving Sarsfields needing a response. Kevin McKernan eventually got the Belfast side off the mark with a free before Donal McKernan added another to settle some early nerves.
McKernan continued to carry a significant scoring threat, converting another placed ball, but Swatragh were finding scores too easily at the opposite end, with Friel keeping the scoreboard moving.
A fine effort from Cahal Murray pushed the Derry side further ahead, although Sarsfields gradually began to find their rhythm. Caolan McKernan and Kevin McKernan both split the posts in the 24th minute to bring the deficit back to a goal and give the Paddies a foothold in the contest.
The introduction of Garry Lennon for Kevin McArdle added further impetus to the Sarsfields attack and Lennon made an immediate impression, producing a terrific score from a tight angle in the 29th minute and adding much needed physical presence in the attacking third.
It was an encouraging spell for the Belfast men, who were beginning to put Swatragh under pressure, but the Derry side finished the half strongly. Friel landed a superb long-range effort before McKernan replied for Sarsfields on the stroke of half-time to leave just two points between the sides.
However, the Paddies were dealt a significant blow straight after the restart when O’Kane's effort found its way through goalkeeper David Ward to the net.
It was a frustrating setback for Sarsfields after the work they had done to get themselves back into the contest, but Enda McCartan responded immediately with a point to show that the Belfast men were not prepared to surrender.
Friel converted another free for Swatragh before Kevin McKernan kept the Paddies ticking over with an excellent placed ball. Conor Murray replied for the Derry side, but McKernan continued to lead the Sarsfields charge with another fine effort.
The contest was becoming increasingly open, with Dominic Bradley responding for Swatragh before Cahal Murray extended their advantage. Friel added another free, but McKernan continued to provide the visitors with a scoring outlet, producing a terrific effort off the shoulder.
Despite the growing deficit, Sarsfields continued to battle and there was no shortage of effort from the Belfast men. Swatragh, though, were making the most of their opportunities, with Cahal Murray and O’Kane adding further scores to keep the Paddies at arm's length.
McCartan registered another point in the 53rd minute before Mick McCormack provided a timely injection of life into the Sarsfields challenge with two excellent scores in succession.
Those efforts offered renewed hope as the Paddies looked to make one final push, and that pressure finally yielded a goal in the 59th minute when Oisin Coleman found the net to give Sarsfields a genuine chance of mounting a late comeback.
The goal lifted the Belfast side and gave the closing stages a different complexion, with the Paddies sensing that there was still something to play for.
Kevin McKernan attempted an audacious effort from distance to try and find the net, however Niall McQuillan managed to scramble and deny the Sarsfields veteran before another terrific save from McQuillan prevented a deflected effort from finding the net and really ramping up the Sarsfields pursuit of the game.
Kevin McKernan was a standout despite the defeat for Sarsfields
The task became considerably more difficult when Fionn Jeffrey received a red card in the 63rd minute, leaving Sarsfields with fourteen men for the closing stages.
It was a disappointing conclusion for the Paddies, who had shown considerable character to battle back into the contest after falling behind early.
While Swatragh ultimately had enough in reserve to see out the game, Sarsfields can take encouragement from the response they produced, particularly in the second half.
Kevin McKernan was a consistent scoring threat, while Lennon made a positive contribution from the bench and the late scores from McCormack and Coleman's goal demonstrated the fighting spirit within the Belfast ranks.
Ultimately, the early second half goal proved costly, with Swatragh's ability to find scores at regular intervals leaving Sarsfields with a mountain to climb. But the Paddies refused to go quietly and ensured that their opponents had to work until the closing stages for their victory.
The men from the Bear Pit will lick their wounds but will still enjoy a fantastic season which saw them clinch a league and championship double in Antrim.
Sarsfields XV: David Ward; Ronan McKenna, David Johnston, Jay Ward; Jay Maguire, Caolan McKernan 0-1, Donal McKernan 0-1; Darren Delander, Nicholas O Mullane; Daniel Smyth, Kevin McKernan 0-8 (7F), Cormac Mulligan; Fionn Jemfrey, Niall Mac an Lia, Kevin Barry McArdle
Subs: Oisin Coleman 1-0, Enda McArtan 0-2, Garry Lennon 0-1
Swatragh XV: Niall McQuillan; Cathal Quinn, Patrick Turn, Ben Kearney; Tiernan Walsh, Sean Martin Quinn, Daire Ó Lochlain; Dominic Bradley 0-1, Cahal Murray 0-6; Cathal Quinn, James Friel 0-6 (6F), Conor Murray 0-2; Eoghan O’Kane 1-2, Fintann McGurk 0-3, Ryan Tohill
Subs: Oisin O’Kane, Mick McCormack 0-2
