SFC Relegation Play-off Round 1
St. Ergnat’s 6-14 Sarsfield’s 3-14
St. Ergnat’s, Moneyglass took a major step towards SFC safety when they overcame the challenge of Patrick Sarsfields in a free scoring encounter in Moneyglass on Saturday evening.
The home side made all the running in the opening half when they rattled the visitors net on five occasions to lead 5-9 to 1-3 at the halfway stage and by all intents and purpose it was all over.
The Stewartstown Road side did improve after the break and outscored St. Ergnat’s to put a much better look on the final score-line but never really looked like closing the big half time deficit.
St. Ergnat’s got off to a perfect start with Tiernan McCormick and Aidan McErlain finding the net in the opening five minutes and McErlain splitting the posts to put his side six ahead.
In between Daniel Smyth kicked a good point for Sarsfields but it would be another 18 minutes before they would score again.
In between Moneyglass found the net on three further occasions with Seanchan Duffin, Tyler Cassidy and Tiernan McCormick the men on target as the Loughbeg Road side took total control.
Tiernan McCormick and Colum Duffin weighed in with points before Connor Laverty give the visitors a glimmer of hope with a goal in the 22nd minute.
Duffin struck a 2 pointer and further points from Aidan McErlain and Tiernan McCormick in response to a single point from Laverty had St. Egnart’s in a commanding position at half time when they led by 19 points.
With the elements now in their favour it was Sarsfields who performed much better in the second half with Caolan McDonnell hitting two early goals to give them some hope of a comeback as they dominated the third quarter.
The hosts replied with points from Seanchan Duffin, Tyler Cassidy and Dermot McErlain to keep their noses firmly in front.
Conor Laverty replied with a point for the visitors and Philip McPeake raised an orange flag as the men from the Berar Pit continued to enjoy the better of the second half exchanges.
Seanchjan Duffin’s goal after 23 minutes for St. Ergnat’s put paid to any chances of a comeback though McPeake continued to kick some nice points for the visitors and Daniel Smyth twice raised the Orange flag but it was of no avail.
Late points from Paul Duffin and Aidan McErlain put the icing on a solid performance from the men in blue and means that Sarsfields will now have to beat St. Paul’s in their final game to keep their Senior Championship hopes alive.
St. Ergnat’s: 1 Jamie McLaughlin, 2 Callum Murray, 3 Zach McCaughan, 4 Eunan McErlain, 5 Sean Boyd, 6 Fergal Duffin, 7 Conleth McCann, 8 Tiernan McCormick, 9 Seanchan Duffin, 10 Paul Duffin, 11 Aidan McErlain, 13 Ewan McGrath, 14 Colum Duffin, 15 Dermot McErlain, 17 Tyler Cassidy.
Sarsfield’s: 1 Cayden Smyth, 4 Barry McArdle, 3 Liam Mirtchell, 5 Phillip McPeake, 6 Daniel Smyth, 7 Caolan McDonnell, 8 Caolan McKernan, 9 Joe McNally, 11 Niall McKenna, 13 Gary L:ennon, 14 Cormac Murray, 15 Fionn Jemfrey, 17 Niall McAlea, 18 Darragh Gorman, 22 Kieran Carson, 24 Paul Dorothy, 26 Pearse Murray, 27 Niall Ferris, 30 Connor Laverty
Referee: Colm McDonald (St. Gall’s)
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