Sarsfields edge it over Moorefield in preliminary clash

Joe Mallon Motors SFC Preliminary Round

Sarsfields 1-10

Moorefield 0-9

Manguard Park, Hawkfield was looking splendidly as the 2024 Joe Mallon Motors Senior Football Championship got under way with the local derby clash between Sarsfields and Moorefield.

A great attendance had little to cheer about early on as defences dominated.

No sign of the Hawkfield resident dog on Friday evening, no doubt he would have had a 'beano' of an evening as both sides played cat and mouse with each other, Moorefield dominated the early possession and in one move had in the region of fifty passes before losing possession.

A short from Sarsfields followed by a free missing the target, from both sides, before Kevin Murnaghan opened the scoring for

The Moores with an excellent long range effort after nine minutes.

A foul on Ben McCormack on Ryan Houlihan saw Mark Murray extend the lead three minutes later McCormack and Houlihan had a real ding-dong battle throughout and both were probably somewhat fortunate to received just yellows in the second half as they 'tangled' on the ground for some minutes as play continued.

Sarsfields opened their account with Con Kavanagh found Ben McCormack who hit a typical Ben effort between the posts.

A foul on Daragh Ryan on Eoin Meehan saw Evan O'Brien extend the Moorefield lead 0-3 to 0-1 after 14 minutes.

A foul by James Murray saw Shane Doyle reduce the lead and a few minutes late the sides were level after a Shane Doyle effort came of the crossbar but a foul was called and Doyle had them all square at 0-3 apiece.

Doyle was causing problems for the Moorefield defence and the no. 14 had his side in front soon after.

Shea Ryan picked up a yellow for mouthing before Evan O'Brien saw his effort come off the upright.

Daragh Ryan put Shane Doyle in and he pointed but unfortunately for Ryan he pulled a hamstring in the process and had to be replaced.

As half-time approached Mark Murray received a black card for a foul on Colm Harnett and before the break Karl Hartley fired over to leave the half time score reading 0-6 to 0-3.

On the resumption a lovely kick forward by Callum Bolton put Ben McCormack in but his effort was brilliantly saved by Tom Kinsella but play was called back for a free and Shane Doyle popped over.

Aaron Masterson hit a fine free; Padraig Cribbin picked up a yellow as Adam Sweeney fired over a boomer.

Sarsfields hit two wides, Barry Coffey hit one off the upright before Eoin Meehan cut inside to reduce the gap to a point on 42 minutes.

Three quick points from Sarsfields had them on their way; Ethan Mountaine picked up a black as Evan O'Brien reduced the gap to three.

However a few minutes later the game was done and dusted a brilliant forward pass by Alan Scully saw Ben McCormack get a flick over Tom Kinsella to find the net.

Moorefield did finish with points from Evan O'Brien and Mark Murray; Tom Kinsella denied Karl Hartley; Liam Healy picked up a black as the final whistle arrived, Sarsfields winning 1-10 to 0-9.

Scorers: Sarsfields, Shane Doyle 0-6 (4 frees), Ben McCormack 1-1, Karl Hartley 0-1, Cian Hughes 0-1, Barry Coffey 0-1.

Moorefield, Evan O'Brien 0-3 (2 frees), Mark Murray 0-2 (2 frees), Eoin Meehan 0-1, Aaron Masterson 0-1 (free), Adam Sweeney 0-1, Kevin Murnaghan 0-1.

SARSFIELDS: Marc Courtney-Byrne; Sean Campbell, Tom Aspell, Ethan Mountaine; David Shalvey, Con Kavanagh, Colm Hartnett; Shea Ryan, Callum Bolton; Matty Byrne, Daragh Ryan, Alan Scully; Ben McCormack, Shane Doyle, Karl Hartley. Subs: Barry Coffey for Daragh Ryan (26 minutes); Cian Hughes for Matty Byrne (42 minutes); Conor Hartley for Sean Campbell (46 minutes); Ben Loakman for Shane Doyle (49 minutes).

MOOREFIELD: Tom Kinsella; Dylan Cosgrave, Mark Dempsey, Liam Healy; Padraig Cribbin, James Murray, Ryan Houlihan; Ryan Moore, Jake Delmer; Eoin Meehan, Kevin Murnaghan, Harry O'Connor; Evan O'Brien, Aaron Masterson, Mark Murray. Subs: Adam Sweeney for Kevin Murnaghan (half-time); Luke Sweeney for Harry O'Connor (46 minutes); Anthony Durney for Jake Delmer (48 minutes); Jason Philips for Eoin Meehan (55 minutes); Liam Callaghan for Dylan Cosgrave (59 minutes).

REFEREE: Kieran Harris.