Mid Tipperary U21 A Hurling semi-final: Sarsfields cruise through the decider after big win

Thurles Sarsfields 4-24

J K Brackens 2-13

With two goals in the eight minutes leading to half-time, Thurles Sarsfields were comfortable winners over an understrength J K Brackens in the Mid under 21 A hurling semi-final on Sunday morning at the Outside Field in Thurles, and will face Drom-Inch in the final this week-end.

The Templemore lads fielded a very young side and while they battled gamely right through once Sarsfields hit them with those goals before half-time, there was going to be only one result. All round Sarsfields looked much stronger with a greater range of options, particularly in attack, with ten of their squad , including two of the subs registering scores.

In a lively first quarter, with both teams showing attacking promise, the sides had shared eight points. Then Sarsfields began to pull away. They were 0-7 to 0-4 clear when Paddy Creedon received from Darragh Stakelum for their first goal in the 22nd minute.

Midfielder Cian Stakelum was having a blinder, hitting four first half points, and brother Darragh Darragh added the second goal just before half-time for an interval lead of 2-13 to 0-7 for the home side.

Brackens were never going to make up the ground lost. Darragh Doyle had a blast for a goal from a 20m free a minute after resuming but it was saved and in the 4th minute Paddy Creedon really put the game to bed with his second goal off Jack Lanigan’s “feed”.

Sarsfields were 3-20 to 0-9 ahead at the end of the third quarter but Brackens mounted a rally in the closing stages, a goal from Luke Ormond getting the ball rolling.  Sarsfields stayed in control however, Eoin  Purcell notching their fourth goal minutes from the end to stifle the Brackens comeback.

Darragh Doyle added a second for Brackens  in the 57th minute , too late to make any real difference.

Sarsfields who  face a  much more taxing test in the final where a fine Drom-Inch team awaits them, had every reason to be happy with this showing, even if the foot was off the pedals in the closing stages. They were very strong in all the key positions with Kieran Costelloe, James Armstrong, Darragh Stakelum and Paddy Creedon providing an experienced spine. Cian Stakelum, Jack Lanigan, Eoin Purcell, and Liam McCormack were others to catch the eye in this clear-cut victory.

J K Brackens used senior Conor Cadell in a roving roll early on and he got through a lot of work. Darragh Doyle, Michael Cahill, Luke Ormond,  Stephen Cahill, Ned Walshe and Diarmuid Delaney were others to work very hard for the Templemore cause.