Ulster Junior Hurling Championship
Cootehill Celtic 1-17
Sarsfields 4-19
At Kingspan Breffni Park
SARSFIELDS romped their way to an Ulster semi-final berth after a huge victory over Cavan Senior Hurling champions Cootehill Celtic on Saturday afternoon at the Kingspan Breffni Park.
Four goals proved the difference in a contest where the visitors showed their attacking quality at crucial stages, with Nicholas O’Mullane and Darren Delander striking in the first half before Fionn Jemfrey and substitute Oisin Coleman found the net after the break.
Cootehill battled hard throughout, with Conor Delaney and Mark Moffett leading their scoring efforts, but Sarsfields had too much firepower and pulled away in the second half to secure a convincing 11-point win.
Kevin McKernan was a constant threat for the visitors, contributing a series of important scores, while the goals gave Sarsfields the platform to take control of the tie.
McKernan opened the scoring with a point from play inside four minutes before Cootehill responded through a Delaney free.
The Paddies veteran added another point before Caolan McKernan increased the visitors’ advantage.
Sarsfields struck the first major blow in the ninth minute when Nicholas O’Mullane found the net to put his side firmly on the front foot.
Cootehill replied through Dylan McKeever’s point from the sideline, but Sarsfields continued to make their opportunities count. Kevin McKernan converted a free before adding another from a placed ball as the visitors maintained their early momentum.
Mark Moffett kept Cootehill in touch with a free, but Sarsfields delivered another setback when Darren Delander found the net in the 20th minute.
The second goal left Cootehill with a mountain to climb, although they responded positively. Delaney converted a free before Moffett and Delaney added further scores from play, with Diarmaid Carney also registering for the home side.
Cootehill continued to chip away at the deficit through their two main scorers, with Delaney finding his range from frees in the closing stages of the half.
However, Delander and McKernan ensured Sarsfields maintained their advantage, and the visitors went in at the break leading by 2-7 to 0-9.
Cootehill needed a strong start to the second half, but Sarsfields quickly showed their determination to put the game beyond reach.
Moffett opened the second-half scoring from a free, only for Cormac Mulligan and Caolan McKernan to reply with points for the visitors. Moffett added another placed ball, but Sarsfields continued to find scores through Fionn Jemfrey and Daniel Smyth.
Moffett again responded for Cootehill, but the decisive moment arrived in the eighth minute of the half when Jemfrey struck for Sarsfields’ third goal.
It was a major blow to the home side’s hopes of a comeback, and matters became more difficult shortly afterwards when Philip McCabe received a second yellow card, leaving Cootehill to play the remainder of the contest with 14 men.
Kevin McKernan converted a free to extend the visitors’ advantage, although Moffett continued to battle for Cootehill, adding another point from a placed ball.
The home side refused to throw in the towel, with Gavin Fitzpatrick and Dylan McKeever registering points to offer some encouragement. However, Sarsfields continued to punish gaps in the Cootehill defence.
McKernan and Jemfrey added further scores, while Darren Delander and Cormac Mulligan also found the target as the visitors stretched their lead.
With Cootehill struggling to contain the Sarsfields attack, substitute Garry Lennon made an immediate contribution with a point, and further scores from McKernan and Mulligan kept the visitors comfortably in control.
Cootehill continued to fight until the closing stages, with McKeever adding another point before Conor Delaney found the net from a free in the 33rd minute of the second half.
It was a reward for the home side’s persistence, but there was to be no late revival as Sarsfields remained firmly in command.
Coleman, introduced from the bench, had the final say when he found the net in the closing moments to complete the scoring and seal an impressive victory over the Cavan side.
The late man-advantage held by the men from the Bear Pit helped them to assert their dominance in the closing stages.
Sarsfields can now look forward to the Ulster semi-finals with confidence after producing a powerful attacking display to secure their place in the last four in two weeks' time.
