Sarfields impress as they see off Naomh Eanna challenge

All County Hurling League Division 2

Sarsfields 1-20 Naomh Eanna 0-13

Sarsfields came out on top in this battle at the top of Division 2 of the All County Hurling League as they put Naomh Eanna to the sword with a confident display in Sunday’s league game at the Bear Pit. On a perfect day for hurling, and on an excellent surface, the Paddies gave an exhibition of score taking to see off the challenge of Terence McNaughton’s charges. There were six to the good at half time and probably should have been further ahead but after the change of ends they were able to up the tempo and win with ease.

**Niall McKenna breaks through the Naomh Eanna challengers**

Both teams came into this game with three wins out of the three but from an early stage Sarsfields laid down a marker as they raced five clear after eight minutes with points from Niall McKenna, Daniel McKernan and Kevin McKernan, who hit three. Killian Jennings pulled a point back for Naomh Eanna and Joe Maskey hit a great score on the run to cut the gap back to five. Niall McKenna of Sarsfields and Conor McSteen of Naomh Eanna exchanged points but three of the trop from Daniel McKernan, one of which was turned over the bar by the goalkeeper, had the home team six clear by the seventeenth minute.

**Eye on the ball! Naomh Eanna’s Mark Donaghy keeps his eye on the ball as he clears from defence**

Ruairi Donaghy pulled on back for Naomh Eanna from out on the sideline but Sarsfields hit back yet again and three on the trot from Kevin McKernan, Niall McKenna and Gary Lennon put them eight clear. Dermot Maguire and Cormac Jennings cut the gap back to six but Daniel McKernan came back with a pointed free just before the break to leave Sarsfields ahead by 0-13 to 0-7 at the short whistle.

Just as they had done in the opening half Sarsfields were quickly out of the traps at the start of the second and after Darragh McGuinness hit the opening point inside two minutes corner forward Gary Lennon got the only goal of the game when he expertly guided Daniel McKeran’s sideline cut past Martin Curran in the Naomh Eanna goals. When Caolan McKernan added a Sarsfields point the home team were twelve clear and all but out of sight and they were able to keep it that way as the second half progressed.

To their credit Naomh Eanna battled away and got some reward as Cormac Jennings (3), Joe Maskey and Jason Higgins all added points, but on each occasion Sarsfields were able to find a reply, Kevin McKernan hitting three great long ranges efforts from inside his own half to help steer his team safely home.

SARSFIELD’S: D Ward; J Daniels, J Cunningham, K Ward; J McKernan (0-1), C Caldwell, N McAlea; J O’Connor (0-1), K McKernan (0-6, 1 free, 1 sideline); D McGuinness (0-2), N McKenna (0-3), D McKernan (0-6, 5 frees); G Lennon (1-1), R Carson, C McKernan. Subs: B McGibbon for R Carson (47), A Johnston for G Lennon (51).

NAOMH ÉANNA: M Curran; T Crummey, R Gillan, E O’Connor; R Diamond, M McGowan, M O’Hare; R Bogue, D Lowry; B Cormican, R Donaghy (0-1), C McSteen (0-1); K Jennings, J Maskey (0-2), D Maguire (0-3). Subs: C Jennings (0-5, 4 frees) for B Cormican (23), O Breen for D Lowry (40), J Higgins (0-1) for D Maguire (51)