Club hurling championships round-up
Sarsfields prevailed in a closely-fought Cork Club SHC final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh this afternoon, beating Bishopstown 1-15 to 1-13 to take the title for the third time in five years.
First-time finalists Bishopstown led by 0-9 to 0-7 at half-time and claimed a late goal through substitute David Hickey to push the final right to the wire, but Sars’ greater experienced helped them hold on.
Denis Crowley had pulled quite a few strings for Bishopstown in the opening half, with Michael Power’s late point pushing them two clear for the break.
However, Sarsfields put themselves in a match-winning position with a goal from Robert O’Driscoll, who profited from good work by substitute Eoin O’Sullivan as they took a 1-13 to 0-13 lead.
In Limerick, Kilmallock claimed their second Senior Hurling Championship crown in three seasons with a 1-15 to 0-15 success against Adare.
Jake Mulcahy’s 46th-minute goal was the difference between the sides in the end. He rippled the net during a superb spell for the 2010 champions as they rattled off 1-4 without reply.
Wind-backed Adare had taken an 0-8 to 0-6 lead into the interval with county ace Declan Hannon standing out as their best player. Hannon finished the game with 0-11 and was a deserving man-of-the-match winner.
But Tony Considine’s Kilmallock side came good in the second half as they took the Daly Cup home for the tenth time in the club’s history.
The decision to send Graeme Mulcahy into centre-field as a third midfielder paid off as Kilmallock won more ball and began to take their chances in front of goal.
Captain Paudie O’Brien and fellow Limerick player Gavin O’Mahony shone for the winners, along with goalkeeper Barry Hennessy who pulled off some fine saves during a tight opening period.
Confey secured their third ever Kildare Club SHC title after emerging as 1-16 to 0-14 winners of this afternoon’s decider against Celbridge.
Celbridge were gunning for their fourth county crown in succession but met a determined Confey side who had full-forward Daragh Nolan in man-of-the-match form.
John O’Neill’s goal after just 42 seconds provided the launch pad for the Leixlip-based side who were last county champions in 2008.
Meanwhile, Ballyduff celebrated their third straight Kerry Club SHC success and 24th title in all after seeing off Lixnaw by 1-15 to 1-09 in Tralee.
The defending champions took a 1-5 to 0-5 half-time lead in a final that failed to catch fire. Bobby O’Sullivan’s free from near the sideline was touched home by captain Aidan Boyle.
Ballyduff had the wind at their backs after the restart and extended their advantage with Paud Costello selected as the man-of-the-match.
Elsewhere, Kilcormac-Killoughey overcame St. Rynagh’s on a 2-16 to 2-12 scoreline in today’s Offaly Club SHC showdown.
It was the club’s first senior title win and they held on in thrilling fashion after a Kevin Grogan had put them 2-13 to 2-09 clear.
It was quite a turnaround as St. Rynagh’s were 2-8 to 1-7 to the good at half-time, with Diarmuid Horan and Gary Kelly raising green flags for the Banagher outfit.
Cathal Kelly sent the Roscommon hurling decider to a replay as his late point saw Padraig Pearses finish on level terms with Four Roads - 1-13 to 0-16.
Four Roads had been 0-14 to 0-8 ahead with 12 minutes remaining, aided by Enda Rogerson’s six-point haul, only for Tomas Sweeney to nab 1-1 and Kelly to hit two late points as a draw was produced.
Bishopstown 1-13 Sarsfields 1-15
Celbridge 0-14 Confey 1-16
Ballyduff 1-15 Lixnaw 1-09
Kilmallock 1-15 Adare 0-15
Kilburn Gaels 1-14 St. Gabriel’s 2-08
Four Roads 0-16 Padraig Pearses 1-13
Kilcormac-Killoughey 2-16 Sarsfields 2-12
