Sarsfields steal the spoils as O’Regan hits net

SARSFIELDS 1-17    

CAPPATAGGLE 1-14                     

Kevin Egan at Duggan Park

JUST eight days after he scored the goal that helped secure All-Ireland glory for St. Raphael’s College, Mark O’Regan was once again on target with a decisive score that secured a memorable win; this time for his club, Sarsfields.

There were no medals handed out at Duggan Park on Sunday evening but for many people around New Inn, Bullaun and Woodlawn, a win over Cappataggle is a pretty momentous occasion in its own right, given their recent difficulties with these opponents. This one was earned courtesy of O’Regan’s late goal, scored less than 15 minutes after he came on to take part in his first ever senior club championship game.

Given the somewhat lopsided look of this year’s Senior ‘A@ championship draw, Cappataggle’s defeat here is a blow, but a far from fatal one. Yet the manner in which they allowed their neighbours to snatch this win will haunt Tony Nevin’s side.

In so many ways, this defeat was self-inflicted from a Cappy point of view. They hurled into the breeze in the first half of this encounter and played by far the more incisive, sharp hurling in that time – only to be undone by indiscipline, on two levels. They conceded more frees than they needed to, and then lost a man just before the break.

When they showed the concentration and patience to pressurise their Sarsfields counterparts, that approach yielded positive results. Sarsfields shot just eight points while hurling with the wind, a mere four of those coming from play.

Kevin Hynes operated as sweeper for Sarsfields for most of the half but with two exceptions, Cappataggle played measured, accurate deliveries into the forward line that took him out of the game. With the exception of one clever pass to set up a point for Ian Fox, Hynes wasn’t a factor in the opening half.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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