Andersonstown Social Club Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 1
Sarsfields 0-19-0-22 St Galls
Kevin Herron reports from the Bear Pit
St Galls made it three wins from three and seized control of Group 1 in the Intermediate Hurling Championship with a hard fought 0-22-0-19 win over Sarsfields at the Bear Pit on Friday evening.
The Milltown men started and ended the first half brightly with four converted Jackson McGreevy free’s helping them to a 0-09-0-06 lead at halfway.
Sarsfields reduced the deficit after some early second half pressure, but five-points in succession saw St Galls open up a seven-point gap and despite the best attempts of talisman Niall McKenna and Kevin McKernan- the hosts were unable to salvage a share of the spoils.
St Galls made a fast start in the Bear Pit as Tomas O’Ciarnan floated over the opening score and Mark Napier stroked a second following a nice piece of play with Fergus Donnelly.
An angled reply from Niall McKenna got the hosts up and running for the evening and McKenna would stroke over successive placed balls, the first from a 65’ and the second a free after he himself was held back by Joseph McDaniel- dissent led to the free being moved forward and McKenna made it three scores on the spin to nudge the hosts in front.
The Stewartstown Avenue side extended their lead through a fine effort from Enda McCartan and McKenna flicked over his fourth of the half after Caolan McKernan fed him a terrific pass.
Patrick Friel responded for St Galls and the Milltown outfit reduced the score to the bare minimum through a converted Jackson McGreevy free.
McGreevy added two further frees in succession to edge his side 0-06-0-05 ahead, but Sarsfields restored parity through an angled Daniel McKernan point.
It was St Galls who would end the half on the front-foot with three scores in succession giving them a 0-09-0-06 lead at the break.
Tomas O’Ciaran doubled his tally for the half, Jackson McGreevy sent over a long range free, and Mark Napier stroked over from the dead ball after he was caught late by Donall Moran.
The visitors extended their advantage after the restart, Jackson McGreevy dropped a 65’ over the bar and Tomas O’Ciarnan picked off his third point of the evening in the aftermath.
Niall McKenna made a timely interception and shot high between the posts to settle the Paddies.
Points were traded between Mark Napier and Anthony McGarrigle before Gregory McGreevy produced a fine score to move his side 0-13-0-08 to the good.
The Paddies moved to within two-points of St Galls with three scores in a row, Niall McKenna added two further frees to his growing tally and in-between time; Daniel McKernan burst forward from deep and popped the ball to McGarrigle for his second of the half.
Any confidence the hosts had gained were quickly extinguished however as St Galls hit back with five-unanswered points.
Gregory McGreevy doubled his tally for the evening and back-to-back frees followed from Jackson McGreevy and Mark Napier.
A side-line cut from McGreevy then landed to Ciaran McCaffery to steer a shot between the posts and McGreevy would then land his first point from play to move the visitors 0-18-0-11 up with less than a quarter of an hour remaining.
By this stage in their opening round draw with OIsins, Sarsfields were well on the comeback trail it would take a repeat display for a similar outcome at the conclusion.
They did respond positively with four scores in a row to move back to within three points. Niall McKenna was on-hand to convert two frees and in-between times the McKernan brothers conjured up points, Caolan sending over a magnificent long-range effort and older brother Kevin also dropping over an impressive point.
Gregory McGreevy put an end to the hosts momentum with his third point of the half, though Niall McKenna added back-to-back frees to move his side to within two of the visitors (0-19-0-17).
The Paddies were unable to apply any further pressure as they fought to maintain their slim deficit.
Tomas O’Ciarnan and Jackson McGreevy (free) had inched St Galls three-points clear, only for Kevin McKernan to land back-to-back scores, the first a long-range effort from play before doing similar from a free.
The insurance score arrived in the form of a Fergus Donnelly point that had St Galls 0-22-0-19 ahead.
In the closing minutes Sarsfields pushed for an equaliser, but lady-luck deserted them and they were unable to land a late-goal as St Galls held on for a third win in the Group- which puts them in firm control with a game remaining against Oisins at the beginning of September.
Sarsfields: D Ward, D Johnston, J Cunningham, R Carson, D McGuinness, E Rodegrs, D Moran, E McCartan (0-01), K McKernan (0-03, 0-01f), A McGarrigle (0-02), D McKernan (0-01), M Rea, D McKernan (snr), N McKenna (0-11, 0-08f, 0-01 65’), C McKernan (0-01). Subs: B Jackson for M Rea (HT), G Lennon for B Jackson (45).
St Galls: K McGreevy, L O’Ciarnan, J McDaniel, D Wilson, N O’Neill, R Irvine, C McCarthy, J Hopkins, J McGreevy (0-10, 0-08f, 0-01 65’)T O’Ciarnan (0-03), G McGreevy (0-03), P Friel (0-01), F Donnelly (0-01), M Napier (0-03, 0-02f), C McCaffery (0-01).
Referee: Colum Cunning (Dunloy)
