Ulster Junior Q- Final Breffni Park Cavan.

Sarsfields 4:19 V Cootehill Celtic 1-17

Report & pics Eamon Mc Garrigle.

This was a tight nervous game for Sarsfields after a long journey to Breffni Park on Saturday but they happily made it to the semi-final after a very tough match. 

Sarsfields started the half well scoring early which settled them with a score from Kevin McKerman before a free by Cootehill Connor Deleney levelled matters.

Kevo scored another point from a free to move Sarsfield’s back ahead followed by another from his brother in arms Caolan Mc Kernan to give the Antrim champions some early momentum.

Then Nick O’ Mullane struck a blow for Coothill with a well taken goal to move the Cavan champions one ahead and it looked like they were up for the challenge..

Coothill were finding it difficult to extend their early lead but Dylan McKeever added one to keep them in the game before Kevin McKernan replied with  2 points from frees to bring the ‘Paddies’ right back into contention

Slowly though Sarsfield’s settled and a goal by Darren Delander looked like making it a long day for Coothill before 3 points from Deleaney, Moffett and Leonard brought them back into contention once more.

Sarsfield’s replied again with 2 points from Delander and Kevo McKernan to edge  Sarsfields ahead 2-7 to 0-6 but the Antrim champions were missing a lot of chances.

Cootehill were battling hard to get back into contention and scored the next 3 points through Diamond Carney and two frees from Delaney to keep the scoreboard ticking over to leave it 2-7 to 0-9 for the Stewartstown Road side at the break.

Mark Moffett hit the opening score of the second half to close the gap to three and it was obvious that |Cootehill were up for the fight.

 Back came Sarsfields and Cormac Mulligan and Caloan Mc Kernan fired over points to move the visitors five ahead again but the excellent Moffett responded from 2 more frees to keep the Cavan side in touch.

Fionn Jemfrey and Daniel Smyth replied with points for the men from the ‘Bear Pit’ before Moffett hit another free leaving the score 2-11 to 0-12 after 37 minutes making it a 5 point game.

Sarsfields were still missing a lot of chances and allowing Coothill back into the games by conceding needless frees but they received a massive boost when Fionn Jemfry got in for their third goal.

Philip Mc Cabe saw red for the Cavan side on the 40th minute with the game still in the balance as wee bit of needle started to creep in but it was the Antrim champions who kept their cool going down the home straight.

Kevin McKernan pointed a free before Coothill responded with three on the bounce through Moffett again from a free and Diarmaid Carney and Mc Keever from play.

It still looked anybody’s game but it was Sarsfield’s who hit the next four scores to put a bit of daylight between the sides. Seamus Clekin added one for Cootehill but Sarsfields added three more of their own

The Cavan champions finished strongly and Mc Keever added a goal and point before the final whistle but it was too little, too  late and  Fionn Jemfrey sealed the win with a late goal for the men from Belfast.

Scorers 

Sarsfields 

Kevin Mc Kernan 0-9 ( 8 frees)

Darren Delander 1-3

Fionn Jemfrey 2-2

Nick O’ Mullane 1-0

Calon Mc Kernan 0-2

Gary Lennon 0-1 

Cormac Mulligan 0-1 

Daniel Smyth 0-1 

Cootehill Celtic:

Mark Moffett 0-6

Conor Delaney 0-4 

Dylan Mc Keever 0-4

Diamond Carney 0-2

Séamus Clekin 0-1