ACHL Division 2
Sarsfield 1-16
Loughgiel 1-19.
Saturday 20th April 2024
Nestled under the imposing backdrop of Black Mountain, Páirc Phádraig Sáirséil faired up well against recent weather and along with today’s sunshine and a northerly breeze, Sarsfield’s turf would help to deliver an evenly balanced game of tough and tight hurling.
Ray Mathews got the game underway at the odd billed time of 5:05pm and Sarsfield sprang into action with the first point from Ruiri McAreavey.
Loughgiel quickly responded with a point from Eoin McGarry. No side had a distinct advantage from the breeze with it cutting directly across the pitch as the points began to click up on the scoreboard.
With the score at Sarsfield 0-05 to Loughgiel’s 0-03, the home side’s Fionn Jemfry pulled on a ball that wasn’t cleared from Loughgiel’s square to register the first goal of the game.
Loughgiel’s Cahir McGrath wasted no time in responding and lodged a goal and a point in quick succession to leave just one in it at the break, Sarsfield 1-07 to Loughgiel’s 1-06.
After the break, Loughgiel found another gear and added seven more points to Sarsfield’s two and that would eventually stand the Shamrock’s in good stead as both sides then went on an almost tit for tat point exchange.
Sarsfield’s left half forward, Daniel McKernan (Snr) found space deep in Loughgiel’s defence and a fine hand-pass to Nicholas O’Mullane ended in a soaring point, much to the delight of the pacing management team.
The home side’s Talisman of the day, Kevin McKernan, picked up the sliotar directly onto the stick and with one flick, dispatched the ball over Loughgiel’s goalkeeper, CormacMcFadden’s bar.
Scores at this point of the game were Sarsfields 1-16 to Loughgiel’s 1-18. Referee Mathews glanced at his watch from the last call of three minutes but there was just enough time for Loughgiel’s Nicholas McNaughton to demonstrate a brilliant block that he gathered for the final point of the game.
Both sides produced a great evening’s hurling deep in the city of Belfast and having spectators to shade the warming sun from their eyes is a great prelude to the rest of the season ahead.
Sarsfield’s starting panel: Gerard McKernan, Mark McCavanagh, Daragh Coleman, Daniel Smyth, Jim McKernan, Ronan McKenna, Kevin McKernan, Anthony McGarrigle, Ruiri McAreavey, Donal, McKernan, Donal McKernan (Snr), Fionn Jemfry, Oisin Coleman, Niall McAlea
Loughgiel starting panel: Cormac McFadden, Pearce Patterson, Daniel McPeake, Patrick Bradley, Connor, Dickson, Damien Quinn, Conall McCloskey, Nicholas McNaughton, Tiago McGarry, Niall McFadden, Donal McKinley, Ryan Hill, Eoin McGarry, Cahir McGrath, Connor O’Mullan
Referee: Ray Matthews (Rossa)