Honours even as Eadestown push Sarsfields all the way in cracker

Eadestown 1-9

Sarsfields 1-9

All square in the opening game of this season's Joe Mallon Motors SFC, Round 1, Group A as favourites Sarsfields had to come from behind to gain a draw with Eadestown in a cracking game at Manguard Park on Friday evening.

Despite a good fall of rain throughout the game players overall coped well with the conditions in a game that was level on no less that five occasions; a game that saw two goals scored within a minute of one another, the first from Pauric Tuohy with Shea Ryan finding the net for The Sash.

A real championship clash was this one and while Eadestown did end the game with 13 players, one of their players picking up yellow while another saw black, the boys in blue picked up a total of five yellow cards and one black while Sarsfields had just one yellow.

Sarsfields had their chances, especially in the second half but they went abegging while Eadestown will, no doubt, feel when it came to the tight decisions, the 50-50 calls they seemed to come off second best from a match official who was in charge of his second championship game in 24 hours.

Barry Coffey had The Sash in front from a free after a minute while Eoin Conneff, who had an excellent game leveled with the first of his three white flags.

A high challenge saw Barry Coffey regain the lead with a free while Darragh Jameson had the sides level on five minutes.

Coffey was on the mark again three minutes later after a high challenge on Shane Doyle, although many in the stand were of the opinion that the ball had gone right of the right hand post.

Colm Hartnett had the Newbridge side in front with a beauty on nine before a fine attack from Eadestown saw Pauric Tuohy carry the ball deep, seemed to lose possession but as the ball hopped had the wherewithal to get a touch putting it over the head of the advancing Marc Courtney Byrne and into the net to take the lead 1-2 to 0-3 after 12 minutes.

But that lead was short lived and within a minute Shea Ryan finished coolly after being put in by Barry Coffey.

Eadestown took control and hit the following four points while Shane Doyle and another Coffey free reduced the lead Eadestown still led at the break 1-6 to 1-5.

A couple of wides from The Sash on the resumption before Ben McCormack had the sides level as Sarsfields had their best period but failed to convert that on to the score board.

Cian Bolton and the impressive Cian Boran pushed Eadestown two clear; Ben Loakman hit a lovely point, Ben Fitzsimons restored the two point lead.

Eadestown defence was working overtime but effectively before Ben McCormack reduced the lead back to one on 58 minutes.

Conan Boran picked up a deserved black before Ben Loakman converted a free to level on 60 minutes.

Eadestown hit a rare wide before Ben Fitzsimons saw yellow for the second time; Sarsfields had a chance to steal it with a 35m free but Ben Loakman's effort was short and cleared.

Much to talk about; a lot to ponder as the sides finished 1-9 apiece.

Scorers: Sarsfields, Shea Ryan 1-0, Barry Coffey 0-3 (3 frees), Ben McCormack 0-2, Ben Loakman 0-2 (1 free), Shane Doyle 0-1, Colm Harnett 0-1.

Eadestown, Pauric Tuohy 1-0, Eoin Conneff 0-3, John Lawlor 0-1, Ben Fitzsimons 0-2 (mark), Darragh Jameson 0-1, Conan Boran 0-1, Cian Bolton 0-1.

SARSFIELDS: Marc Courtney Byrne; Alan Scully, Tom Aspell, Ethan Mountaine; David Shalvey, Con Kavanagh, Colm Harnett; Shea Ryan, Matty Byrne; Callum Bolton, Barry Coffey, Daragh Conlon; Ben McCormack, Shane Doyle, Karl Hartley. Subs: Ben Loakman for Daragh Conlon (half-time); Tadhg Hoey for Callum Bolton (38 minutes); Jake Loakman for Shane Doyle (41 minutes); Conor Hartley for Barry Coffey (55 minutes).

EADESTOWN: Shane Sargent; Eoin Woods, John Lawlor, Sean Hynes; Fiachra Bracken O'Brien, Jack Sargent, Conan Boran; Rian Boran, Niall Cummins; Ben Fitzsimons, Eoin Conneff, Darragh Jameson; Cian Bolton, Pauric Tuohy, Conor McCarthy. Subs: Eoin Doyle for Conor McCarthy (44 minutes); Harry Carroll for Eoin Woods (52 minutes); Niall Grainger for Fiachra Bracken O'Brien (58 minutes).

REFEREE: Billy O'Connell.