Sarsfields show little mercy as Ardrahan crash out

Sarsfields 4-17

 Ardrahan 0-19

DESPITE missing a number of key players, Sarsfields cruised into the SHC quarter-finals following a 10-point victory over a gutsy but, ultimately, porous Ardrahan outfit in this preliminary quarter-final fixture at Kenny Park, Athenry, on Saturday.

What was incredible about the opening half of this clash was that, by the interval, both sides had 13 scores apiece; it was just that four of Sarsfields’ scores were goals. That will rankle with the Ardrahan camp given that, the concession of those goals aside, they were industrious and honest in their application and endeavours.

However, to cough up four goals the way Ardrahan did emphasised the gap that exists between senior ‘A’ and senior ‘B’ teams, with the naivety of the Ardrahan men’s play exposed in the cruellest of fashions.

In the top grade, a senior ‘A’ outfit would have barricaded the door at some point in the opening half but Ardrahan were unable to squeeze the space on Sarsfields – or, indeed, block up the centre avenue to goal – and they paid a heavy price.

Ardrahan started brightly as scores from Liam Forde, Pearse McCrann, Iarla Tannian and Sean Gardiner (free) catapulted David Huban’s charges into a four-point to one lead.

However, a sixth-minute goal from Sarsfields’ Niall Morrissey, following good work from Alex Connaire, tied up the game; Morrissey had also tallied their first point from a free minutes earlier.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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