No contest as Sash thump Eadestown by 20 points to take command of SFC group
Sarsfields 4-19
Eadestown 1-8
Joe Mallon SFC Group D round three
There were few predicting a competitive game in St Conleth’s Park between Sarsfields and Eadestown, and it turned out to be what many expected before throw-in as Sarsfields thumped their opponents by 20 points in an extremely one-sided game.
They scored all four of their goals in the first half before easing their foot off the gas in the second, and for Eadestown it looks like they will be fighting the threat of relegation once again this year after shipping two heavy defeats in seven days.
The writing was on the wall for Eadestown after just 15 seconds as Sarsfields punctured their defence all to easily straight from the throw-in, and it was Conn Whelan who was the beneficiary of some good play as he received the ball close to goal and finished to the net.
There was the briefest sign of resistance from Eadestown when Cian Malone curled over a nice point from the left wing in the fourth minute, but that was as close as they ever got as Sarsfields turned the screw. Their second goal was more impromptu than inspired, with Cian Byrne’s shot from distance dropping short, but Dan Nea was on hand to fist the ball in from close range.
Another long ball into the area caused consternation in the Eadestown defence, and the razorsharp Nea was on hand to beat Mikey Quinn at his near post from a tight angle and register his fourth goal in two games, sending Sarsfields into a 3-0 to 0-1 lead.
The Sash lost Ben McCormack early on through injury, though they had plenty in reserve to replace him as Ray Cahill came on. Nea and Alan Smith supplemented their lead with Sarsfields first couple of points, but they gave up a silly goal when goalkeeper Andy O’Brien carried possession out from his line and lost it, allowing Cian Bolton to run at goal and find the net while O’Brien was scrambling to get back.
That was some rare respite as Ronan Fitzgibbon and Cahill fired over points for Sarsfields, before Whelan bagged their fourth goal with a thunderous finish to the top corner after being teed up by Nea.
Bolton managed a point from a free for Eadestown, but Sarsfields continued to punish their opponents as Smith raised a couple of white flags and Daragh Ryan and Whelan also split the posts before the interval, giving Paul Doyle’s side a 4-9 to 1-2 lead at the interval.
The second half was a complete formality for the Sash as they largely went through the motions.
There were a couple of really eye-catching scores from Cahill, while Smith continued to show his accuracy as he landed three more points, one of which was a brilliant score after claiming a kickout from Andy O’Brien.
Eadestown couldn’t muster much of a resistance as they looked a beaten docket right the way through, though Johnny Deane angled over a fine point and Conor McCarthy tapped over a couple.
It was a tough watch really, and neither side will have taken much from 60 uncompetitive minutes.
Scorers for Sarsfields: C Whelan 2-3, D Nea 2-2, A Smith 0-6(3f), R Cahill 0-4(2f), D Ryan and R Fitzgibbon 0-2 each.
Scorers for Eadestown: C Bolton 1-4(3f), C McCarthy 0-2(1f), J Deane and C Malone 0-1 each.
Sarsfields
Andy O’Brien; Shane Hurley, Tom Aspell, Cian Byrne; Cian McConnell, Sean Campbell, Adam Donoghue; Gary White, David Marnell; Conn Whelan, Ben McCormack, Daragh Ryan; Dan Nea, Alan Smith, Ronan Fitzgibbon.
Subs used: Ray Cahill for McCormack 5mins, Cian Scanlon for Aspell HT, Caoimghin McDonnell for Marnell HT, Ciaran McInerney Aspell for Hurley 37mins, Cian Costigan for Nea 40mins,
Eadestown
Mikey Quinn; Adam Fitzsimons, Eddie Conroy, Eoin Cummins; Ronan Slattery, Emmet Bolton, Calum Fitzsimons; Pat O’Sullivan, Barry Lawlor; Johnny Deane, Paul Doherty, Cian Maloen; Pauric Tuohy, Cian Bolton, Conor McCarthy.
Subs used: Paul Hyland for C Fitzsimons 30mins, Steve Smith for O’Sullivan 52mins, Robbie Smith for Dean 58mins, Fiachra Bracken O’Brien for Slattery 60mins.