Sarsfields pushed all the way by Caragh before pulling clear

The final score line of this Joe Mallon Motors SFC Group B Round 2 shows Sarsfields winning by eight points, however while the winners fully deserved their win, that score line flatters them somewhat.

Caragh after a slow start certainly put it up to their more illustrious opponents and whale they (Caragh) never looked like they would win, they nevertheless put in a very credible display.

The opening twenty minutes were dominated by Sarsfields, playing into the Kilcullen end they opened with a point from Cathal White after 47 seconds and while Ryan Kearney and Cian Costigan (free) saw them open a three point lead, they also missed the target a number of times.

It took Caragh all of 21 minutes before Darragh Swords opened their account and by that time Sarsfields had seven on the board.

Swords hit again and then a third free as the boys in maroon came more into the game.

Conor O’Donovan stretched the lead before Dan Lynam, started and finished a fine move finding the left hand corner of Cathal Moore’s net to make it 0-8 to 1-3.

However just on the half-time whistle a brilliant long-range two-pointer from Cian Costigan, on the frees in the absence of Barry Coffey, made the half-time score reading Sarsfields 0-10 Caragh 1-3.

A goal in 35 minutes from Kevin Campbell cut the lead back to one, however Sarsfields replied with a two-pointer free from Cathal Moore and a point from Cian Costigan.

Darragh Swords with a two-pointer, the excellent Cathald White hit two quick points before Swords struck again with another orange flag to cut the lead back to two on 52 minutes.

Cathal White got his fourth before substitutes Barry Coffey (free) and Ben McCormack left five in it.

Then on 65 minutes Sarsfields attacked down the left wing with Conor O’Donovan finishing excellently past Michael Behan to leave the final score line reading Sarsfields 1-18 Caragh 2-7.

Scorers: Sarsfields, Cian Costigan 0-7 (1 two-pointer free), 1 two-pointer and 2 frees), Conor Donovan 1-2, Cathal White 0-4, Cathal Moore 0-2 (two-pointer free), Ryan Kearney 0-1, Barry Coffey 0-1, Ben McCormack 0-1.

Caragh, Darragh Swords 0-7 ( 2 two-pointers, 2 frees), Dan Lynam 1-0, Kevin Campbell 1-0.

SARSFIELDS: Cathal Moore; Colm Harnett, Jimmy O’Neill, David Higgins; Daragh Conlon, Alan Scully, Cathal White; Matty Byrne, Gavin Anderson; Shea Ryan, Callum Bolton, Cian Costigan; Ryan Karney, Luke Mahon, Conor O’Donovan. Subs: Daragh Ryan for Luke Mahon (42 minutes): David Shalvey for Daragh Conlan (48 minutes); Barry Coffey for Gavin Anderson (52 minutes); Kieran Dwyer for David Higgins (53 minutes).

CARAGH: Michael Behan; Billy Byrne, Paul Dockery, Alex Kehoe; Cathal McKennedy, Matthew McNally, Ryan Burke; Kevin Connor, Liam Blake; Dan Lynam, Mick O’Toole, Kevin Campbell; Ronan Doorey, Darrah Swords, Ruadhran Kane. Subs: Dan Murray for Mick O’Toole (48 minutes); Eoghan O’Haire for Ronan Doorey (50 minutes); Alex Kehoe for Matthew McNally (59 minutes).

REFEREE: Kieran Harris.