Out of sorts Sarsfields slump to heavy defeat

Cushendall 3-12

Sarsfields 1-6

IT’S been a long time since a Galway team was so badly beaten in an All-Ireland Club hurling semi-final and that ignominy befell a callow Sarsfields outfit which was blown away physically in Pairc Tailteann, Navan last Sunday.

Cleaned out in the air; only managing a measly two scores from play over the hour; and with several key players having little or no influence; Sarsfields were under pressure nearly from the off in eventually falling to a humbling dozen points defeat.

The fact that the New Inn/Bullaun men were so vastly inferior to an Antrim team will compound their sense of disappointment, especially as Cushendall surely arrived at the Co Meath venue with demons in their system from having lost all their previous eight semi-finals at this level.

You would never have thought it, however, as they hit the ground running and while Cushendall’s greater physicality was a vital component of an emphatic victory, they had a decisive tactical edge too with their ability to engineer space up front a key component of reaching a first ever All-Ireland final.

Cushendall’s use of possession was generally much smarter as well while their impressive teamwork and sharpness underlined a serious level of preparations which embraced challenge outings against Cork, Wexford and Dublin.

Despite looking nothing exceptional on their way to capturing Antrim and provincial titles, Cushendall were clearly electrified at the prospect of one more crack at ending the club’s semi-final heartache, and how they embraced that opportunity in pulling off a rousing success.

In contrast, Sarsfields’ lack of experience was plain to see for much of a hard fought encounter. Their defenders were pulled all over the place; midfield struggled to get their hands on the ball; while the team’s lightweight attack was hounded into submission by a terrific Cushendall rearguard where corner back Ryan McCambridge was unbeatable.

Full coverage of All-Ireland Club semi-final in this week’s Connacht Tribune.