Imokilly 1-23
Sarsfields 0-17
DIVISIONAL OUTFIT IMOKILLY reign supreme in Cork senior hurling again, as they slipped into a higher gear in the second half to storm past title holders Sarsfields in today’s final.
Trailing by six at the break, Imokilly ran out nine-point victors as they harnessed the powerful wind at their backs in the second half.
Man-of-the-match Jack Leahy rifled over eleven points for Imokilly, while Cork senior Ciaran Joyce was immense at the heart of their defence.
The crucial score arrived three minutes into the second half, Imokilly pouncing for the only goal of the game as Bill Cooper overturned a short Sarsfields puckout, feeding Adam Murphy and he finished emphatically to the net.
That score helped make amends for a couple of goal chances Imokilly missed in the opening period, while Sean Desmond had one harshly disallowed for a square ball infringement, when he appeared to be standing outside.
Inspired by Daniel Hogan’s four first-half points, Sarsfields hurled with authority early on as they sought to complete back-to-back titles for the first time in the club’s history. They were in front 0-6 to 0-3 after 17 minutes before making a significant charge as they reeled off five points without reply courtesy of Hogan (2), Cork senior Jack O’Connor, Paul Leopold, and Cian Darcy.
Imokilly, heavy favourites beforehand, trailed 0-11 to 0-3 but managed to critically weather the storm and bag two points before the break courtesy of Shane Hegarty and Sean Desmond.
They pushed up on Sarsfields’ puckout in the second half as Brian Lawton, a sweeper in the opening period, switched to a conventional attacking spot.
Murphy’s goal and a Diarmuid Healy point seconds later, both stemmed from pressure placed on the Sarsfields puckouts. As scores were exchanged, Imokilly were hitting their stride to go ahead 1-11 to 0-13 in the 42nd minute, Leahy notching a brace and Seamus Harnedy also chipping in with two.
Sarsfields steadied their challenge and when Aaron Myers smashed over a shot in the 47th minute, they were ahead 0-16 to 1-12, and has reason to be confident they could compete heading down the stretch.
Instead Imokilly showcased their strength and class to outscore Sarsfields 0-12 to 0-1 for the remainder of the game. Joyce was terrific in this phase, while Daire O’Leary and Timmy Wilk were also hugely prominent in defence.
Six different players contributed to that late scoring spree with midfielder Shane Hegarty clipping over two scores, and Leahy starring as he weighed in with five.
It was a spell sufficient to clinch their fourth title in eight campaigns, while Sarsfields must now recover to represent Cork in the Munster club championship, a semi-final against Clare’s Feakle or Sixmilebridge.
Scorers for Imokilly: Jack Leahy 0-11 (0-7f, 0-1 ’65), Adam Murphy 1-0, Shane Hegarty 0-3, Sean Desmond 0-3, Seamus Harnedy 0-2, Eoin Davis 0-1 (0-1f), Diarmuid Healy 0-1, Mike Kelly 0-1, Barry Lawton 0-1.
Scorers for Sarsfields: Daniel Hogan 0-5 (0-2f), Jack O’Connor 0-2, Aaron Myers 0-2, Paul Leopold 0-1, Conor O’Sullivan 0-1, Bryan Murphy 0-1, Cian Darcy 0-1, Daniel Kearney 0-1, Cathal McCarthy 0-1, Colm McCarthy 0-1.
Imokilly
Eoin Davis (St Catherine’s)
Timmy Wilk (Cobh), Mike Russell (Aghada), Ciaran O’Brien (St Ita’s – captain)
Ciaran Joyce (Castlemartyr), Daire O’Leary (Watergrasshill), John Cronin (Lisgoold)
Shane Hegarty (Dungourney), Bill Cooper (Youghal)
Brian Lawton (Castlemartyr), Diarmuid Healy (Lisgoold), Seamus Harnedy (St Ita’s)
Adam Murphy (Watergrasshill), Sean Desmond (Watergrasshill), Jack Leahy (Dungourney).
Subs
- 17. Kevin O’Neill (Watergrasshill) for Russell (35)
- 18. Mike Kelly (Castlemartyr) for Murphy (47)
- 30. Barry Lawton (Castlemartyr) for Healy (52)
- 20. Will Leahy (Aghada) for Desmond (62)
Sarsfields
Donnacha McCarthy
Paul Leopold, Craig Leahy, Conor O’Sullivan
Luke Elliott, Eoghan Murphy, Bryan Murphy
Cian Darcy, Daniel Kearney
Jack O’Connor, Daniel Hogan, Aaron Myers
Shane O’Regan, James Sweeney, Colm McCarthy.
Subs
- 22. Cathal McCarthy for O’Regan (half-time)
- 21. Liam Healy for Sweeney (39)
- 24. Killian Murphy for Kearney (52)
Referee: Shane Scanlon (Newcestown)
Chris Farrell is power of strength in the centre – let’s hope he plays as well as the MOTM performance from last year’s six nations (without the injury).
@Con Cussed: he wasn’t injured in that match only in training afterwards
Good to see Schmidt acknowledging that farrell was the right choice, nothing to do with henshaw. He’s dead right too, once ringrose was out go with the guy who’s been training in the position and hungry to get out there. I’m expecting a big game from farrell and I’ve every faith in him to deliver.
@Jim Demps: Same. It helps that he’s feckin huge as well.
@Jim Demps: Where does he acknowledge that Jim?
@Jim Demps: it is to do with Henshaw. Farrell would not be starting were it not for Henshaws injury
@Luke walkee: “ once Garry Ringrose was ruled out it was going to be about trying to keep some little continuity as best we can in a short space of time. You’ve got Chris farrell sitting in the wings massively motivated to do his best. So it’s a great opportunity to get him in and give him a run. “
@Jim Demps: That’s not what he acknowledged. Itching for a row today?
@Eddie Hekenui: It’s not even the right choice if you are using Jim’s criteria
@Eddie Hekenui: no row, genuinely think he made the right choice. Pick the guy who plays in the position. If it doesn’t work out then that’s on farrell.
@Jim Demps: That’s fair enough and I’d agree about picking Farrell ahead of Henshaw at 13 if both fit but Schmidt doesn’t acknowledge Farrell was the right choice, regardless of Henshaw. He says Henshaw might’ve played if it wasn’t for the knock
@Eddie Hekenui: my reading of his quote would be different but fair enough, don’t mind either way and I think the right decision was arrived at. The prospect of facing farrell is far more daunting for Scotland than Addison or henshaw I think.
@Jim Demps: Henshaw is a far better player than Farrell especially defensively
@Eddie Hekenui: surprised he didn’t actually say ‘carrying a bit of a niggle’, which is usually the code for being dropped.
Tom Farrell has put in two stellar seasons and this one he seems to of kicked on again,
he partners the only other fit first team center at provincial level (aki) and has clocked up huge minutes at 13.
injuries to 2 first line centers coupled with ; Chris Farrell (albeit a fantastic option) has played a handful of games since this time last year and a lot of these were not 80 min showings so you’d have to presume he is slightly under cooked.
With all these factors and his impact out west you would really have to question , how will he ever get a cap when the set of circumstances just listed still don’t allow for a look in.
I’m admittedly bias towards Tom Farrell as personally I think he is excellent but it must be hard argue against him having no chance to play his way in.
I am really worried about Henshaw`s injury problems he has not played three consecutive games since connacht won the pro 12.
@Michael Colleary: Reading between the lines it sounds as if Henshaw was dropped rather than unavailable since Schmidt said he could have played and he has form for citing the reason of a players exclusion as injury/fitness/minutes rather than a selection call.
He also suggested in the press conference he wasn’t planning to bring Rob Kearney back in this week but the cohesion was so poor last week he felt he had to, indicating disappointment with Henshaw.
@Rochelle: he literally says Henshaw would have played but he took another knock. You Munster fans are nuts, you believe Joe when it looks good on a Munster player, but he is taking BS when it comes to a Leinster player. If it was all about form C Farrell would have been 3rd choice
@Michael Colleary: That’s just not true. What a weird thing to make up.
@Rochelle: well said.