Unbeaten Sarsfields come out on top in local derby

Sarsfields 0-16

Cappataggle 0-11

SARSFIELDS maintained their unbeaten record and top Group D after this five-point triumph over Cappataggle in the first of a double-header at Ballinasloe on Saturday evening.

The men from Bullaun, New Inn and Woodlawn were comfortable winners in the end, although the second-half performance was far from complete, and they have ample room for improvement before their third group game against Tynagh/Abbey/Duniry.

Sarsfields did most of the damage in the first-half, and did just enough after the break, but there’s a sense they have another gear in them if required.

Cappataggle, in their first senior championship match since 2009, weren’t lacking in endeavour and honesty but they were just a tad ring-rusty, having sat out the opening round of matches.

They struggled to get to the pace of the game early-on. But the longer the game progressed, the more they grew into it, although there was never really a sense that they could reel in their East Galway neighbours.

In fairness, Sarsfields could have won it by more but for the heroics of James Skehill, whose expert shot-stopping prolonged Cappataggle’s interest in the match and surely puts him back in contention to regain the Galway number one jersey.

Skehill was tested right from the throw-in when he blocked an Alan Ward effort and then Niall Quinn’s shot from the rebound was also cleared. That early attack signalled Sarsfields intent and they had established a 0-4 to 0-1 advantage after the first-quarter, which was scrappy, with Kerril Wade, Niall Morrissey, Kevin Hynes, and Alan Ward (free) doing the scoring against a lone free from reliable free-taker Daniel Nevin.

Nevin landed two more frees but another Sarsfields’ scoring burst from Joseph Cooney, Wade and Ward (free) kept them in the driving seat.

Sarsfields were getting the better of the middle-third, and were winning the battle for possession at puck-out time – Skehill, despite his shot-stopping was guilty of a couple of wayward restarts – and they pressed home the advantage coming up to half-time.

Full report in this week’s Connacht Tribune.