Sarsfields come through Confey, eventually

Sarsfields 2-17

Confey 2-10

Sarsfields got their expected win in the second game at Hawkfield on Sunday but they were certainly made to work for it by a determined Confey side.

The final scoreline says seven points in it but while the winners were certainly worth their win the margin of the victory does not do justice to Confey.

The rank outsiders led at the break 1-5 to 0-7, went behind early in the second half only to hit three points in a row before Sarsfields stepped up their game hitting 1-6 between the 48 and 58 minutes.

Brian Grimes and Matty Byrne exchanged early points before the ever-green Oisin Lynch pointed for Confey. However The Sash hit back with point Calum Bolton point while a Shane Doyle goal effort was well saved by Colin Heeney.

James Gately and Shane Doyle exchanged points before Callum Bolton had the Newbridge boys back in front.

However that lead did not last long as a long ball in from Oisin Lynch saw James Gately and Shea Ryan contest with the Confey winning this battle gaining possession before finding the net — Confey 1-3 Sarsfields 0-4 on 16 minutes.

Shane Doyle converted a free; Niall Carney did likewise and Brian Grimes left three in it on 22 minutes.

Points from Ethan Mountaine and Shane Doyle (free) left Confey leading at the break 1-5 to 0-7.

Brian Grimes extended that lead on the resumption but Sarsfields hit four points on the trot from Ben McCormack, Karl Hartley, Shane Doyle (free) and Hartley again, to lead by one.

Confey, however, were not going away just yet, Niall Carney, Conor Dennehy and James Gately saw Confey back in the lead by one.

However that was as good as it got for the boys from North Kildare as Sarsfields stepped up the gears with points from Ben McCormack, Dane Doyle before a Ben McCormack goal attempt was saved by Colin Heeney only for Karl Hartley to be on hand to boot to the net, making it 1-13 to 1-9.

James Gately got a point back for Confey but Sarsfields added points from Jimmy O'Neill, Karl Hartley before Hartley got hi s second goal of the game and Shane Doyle added a point.

Confey did get a late consolation goal from Conor Jennings while Daragh Ryan got the last score of the game as Sarsfields came through on a final score line of Sarsfields 2-17 Confey 2-10.

Scorers: Sarsfields, Karl Hartley 2-3, Shane Doyle 0-6 (3 frees), Ben McCormack 0-2, Callum Bolton 0-2, Matty Byrne 0-1, Ethan Mountaine 0-1, Jimmy O'Neill 0-1, Daragh Ryan 0-1.

Confey, James Gately 1-3 (1 free), Brian Grimes 0-3, Conor Jennings 1-0, Niall Carney 0-2 (2 frees), Oisin Lynch 0-1, Conor Dennehy 0-1.

SARSFIELDS: Marc Courtney Byrne; Alan Scully, Shea Ryan, Daragh Conlon; David Shelvey, Con Kavanagh, Callum Bolton; Tadhg Hoey, Matty Byrne; Ethan Mountaine, Ben McCormack, Conor Hartley; Karl Hartley, Shane Doyle, Ben Loakman. Subs: Colm Harnett for Daragh Conlon (26 minutes); Daragh Ryan for Conor Hartley (26 minutes); Cian Byrne for Con Kavanagh (38 minutes); Jake Loakman for Tadhg Hoey (44 minutes); Jimmy O'Neill for Ben Loakman (54 minutes).

CONFEY: Colin Heeney; Andrew Breslin, Colm Chan, Oisin Lynch; Conor Jennings, Ciaran Kilbane, Aidan Crean; Brian Grimes, Paul Divilly; Ciaran Lyons, James Gately, Cathal Jennings; Imad Mirza, Niall Carney, Ben Hourihane. Subs: Conor Dennehy for Oisin Lynch (35 minutes): Ian Devane for Niall Carney (54 minutes); Thomas McCann for Ciaran Lyons (55 minutes).

REFEREE: Conor Daly.