Antrim All County Hurling League Division Two
Gort na Mona 0-13 Sarsfields 2-13
Paul McIntyre reports from Páirc Mhic Ionnrachtaigh
Turning around at half-time after playing into a strong wind just three points in arrears, Gort na Mona would’ve fancied themselves to register their first win of the season.
And for much of the second half it looked like that they would get that win too.
Helped by the accuracy of Darren Boyd, the Gorts held a slender two-point lead with eight minutes to go and, up until this point Sarsfields had failed to raise a flag of any description in the second period and frustration was creeping in.
Nicholas O’Mullane and Mark Rea had picked up yellow cards and the game appeared to be slipping away from the visitors.
However, in the dying embers of the contest two goals turned the tie on its head and it was Sarsfields who went home with the precious two points.
With just two minutes remaining Daniel Smyth’s free deceived everyone to sail straight to the net before Jim McKernan swooped to put the game beyond the Gorts reach in injury time.
Aided by the strong wind Sarsfields started brightly, and two points for Niall McAlea and three from Gary Lennon helped Sarsfields to 0-5 to 0-4 lead. But as the wides tally started to mount, points from Boyd and Patrick McCaffrey kept the hosts in touch.
Lennon had an opportunity to put daylight between the sides on 18 minutes but his penalty was well stopped by Dominic Collins in the home goal.
After notching up nine wides in the first half, Sarsfields eventually found their range and two further Lennon frees and one from play by Anthony McGarrigle saw the Lenadoon side take a three-point lead into the break, 0-9 to 0-6.
The Gorts wasted no time in getting the scoreboard operator working in the second half with Padraig McHugh and Declan Hughes helped to swing the momentum in favour of the home side.
Three further points from Boyd, one a clinker from wide out on the left, saw the Gorts go two in front.
Lennon and Boyd then exchanged frees as Sarsfields eventually started to claw their way back into the game before a quickfire 1-1 from Smyth gave the visitors a two-point lead.
Chasing the game again Gort na Mona threw their lot at the Sarsfileds goal and Naoise O’Faoláin had to react quickly to deny Tiarnán Ó Cadhlaigh a certain goal.
But the last word was left to the visitors and McKernan followed up his goal with a point with the final act of the game.
Teams and Scorers:
Gort na Mona: Dominic Collins, Patrick Cournane, Christopher Devlin, James Connelly, Joseph Caddell, Padraig McHugh (0-1), David Dixon, Declan Hughes (0-1), Neil Henry, Darren Boyd (0-8 6f), Gavin McKenna, Tiarnán Morton, Aidan McDonagh, Patrick McCaffrey (0-3), Tiarnán O’Cadhlaigh.
Replacements: Reece Coleman for Devlin (27) & Noah McGivern for Caddell (42).
Sarsfields: Naoise O’Faoláin, Mark McCavanagh, James Cunningham, Dáragh Coleman, Nicholas O’Mullane, Eoghan Rogers, David Johnston, Enda McCartan (0-1), Daniel Smyth (1-1), Anthony McGarrigle (0-1), Mark Rea (0-2), Niall McAlea (0-1), David McAlister, Gary Lennon (0-6f), Daniel McKernan.
Replacements: Jim McKernan (1-1) for David McAllister (36) & Pearse Cossack for Daniel McKernan (36).
Referee: Mr Hugh Torney (Ballycran)