Sarsfields0-22

Castlegar 1-11

By Stephen Glennon at Kenny Park

A Ger Farragher-less Castlegar proved to be no match for a slick Sarsfields side when the two met in a disappointing SHC ‘A’ encounter at Kenny Park, Athenry, on Saturday.

Indeed, without their ‘Rock of Cashel’ – for that is what Ger Farragher has become in the East side of the city – Castlegar struggled to find any fluency in attack while his freetaking duties, despite a reasonable showing from stand-in Greg Thomas, were also missed.

In contrast, Sarsfields, even without Joseph Cooney and Darren Morrissey, were a cut above their opponents, giving an exhibition in point shooting throughout the fixture as eight players scribbled their names on the scoresheet.

To the fore was full-forward Kevin Cooney with ten points from placed balls while Alex Connaire (0-3), Darragh Donohue, John Cooney and Paddy MacCartaigh (0-2 each) and Adam Donohue, Leon Connaire and Michael Hanlon (0-1 apiece) also contributed.

Wind assisted, Sarsfields set the tone in the opening quarter, at the end of which they led 0-8 to 0-3 – although there was some confusion over Castlegar’s third point tallied by Jack Coyne.

Adam Donohue, Alex Connaire, Kevin Cooney (free) and Darragh Donohue were all on target in the opening seven minutes, after a Greg Thomas free had fired up the scoreboard in the opening seconds.

Further scores from Darragh Donohue, John Cooney and Kevin Cooney (two frees) ensured Sarsfields lost none of their early momentum – and not even a sprinkling of points from Oisín Connolly, Coyne, Thomas (free) and Donal Barry could dispel the notion that this tie was over before it had begun.

In the second quarter, Kevin Cooney (three frees), John Cooney, Leon Connaire, Alex Connaire and MacCartaigh elevated the victors into a 0-15 to 0-5 lead.

Pictured: Michael Hanlon of Sarsfields geting away from Castlegar’s Gearoid King during the clubs’ Senior A Championship tie at Kenny Park on Saturday. Photo: Joe O’Shaughnessy.