New Inn/Bullaun men rise to the challenge to claim first hurling title since 1997

SARSFIELDS’ gritty win on Sunday rolled back the years to the good old days of the 1980s and 1990s, as the club captured a first senior hurling title in 18 seasons.

As they say, ‘you can’t bate breeding’. And while none of the personnel on either team that played in the replay at Pearse Stadium had experience of winning a senior county final, the Sarsfields’ lads just seemed to possess more knowhow of grinding it out on the big day.

It’s very hard to quantify the benefit of tradition and history of winning senior titles. But Sarsfields, who captured their seventh county title with this 2-10 to 0-14 win at the weekend, have it; Craughwell, appearing in their first senior final in 83 years, don’t. In an evenly fought contest decided on such tight margins, maybe something as nebulous as tradition makes a difference.

Of course, back in the real world, goals helped too. Sarsfields netted two of them, both at pivotal moments. Craughwell failed to convert any of their goal chances, including a guilt-edged opportunity right at the death. It’ll bother them well into the Winter.

The game’s most influential player, Joseph Cooney turned the tide for the New Inn and Bullaun outfit when he buried to the net after a rampaging run through the Craughwell defence.

That lifeline 10 minutes in stunned Craughwell, who shook off their slow-starters’ tag and had built an early four points to one lead. The second green flag was even more timely for Sarsfields; and proved a real kick in the teeth for Stephen Glennon’s charges.

What looked like an inconsequential free inside Sarsfields’ territory, in first-half injury time, effectively decided the game. Wing-back Niall Quinn struck the delivery long and high into the danger area where Cooney and Noel Kelly were lurking with menacing intent. Both pulled on it in the air but it was Kelly who connected and struck it past ‘keeper Aidan Ryan.

Unlike the first goal, when Niall Healy hit back with a pointed free, there was no time left for Craughwell to retaliate. It gave Sarsfields a massive adrenalin rush as they hit the dressing room and delivered an energy boost to the legs that sustained them in the second half. Instead of being one point up, they had a four-point advantage, 2-6 to 0-8. Now they had something to protect.

Craughwell, known for comebacks this season, threw everything at it after half-time, and left nothing out on the field but no matter how hard they toiled, they just couldn’t muster-up the means to clinch the psychologically important levelling score.

They came within one-point on a couple of occasions but when they did, Sarsfields, like true champions, summoned an inner strength to somehow keep their noses in front.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.