Lucan Sarsfields Edge Past St Brigids In Go-Ahead Ireland SHC1 Tie

LUCAN SARSFIELDS 0-23 

ST BRIGID’S 2-15 

Lucan Sarsfields withstood some concerted late pressure before seeing off a dogged St Brigid’s by two points in their Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship Group 1 encounter at O’Toole Park on Saturday afternoon.

Sarsfields were eight points to the good by the 58^th minute but the concession of two late goals made life far more difficult than it needed to be, given the general control that they exerted for the large part.

A host of wides throughout the encounter undermined that dominance as their opponents, missing the talents of the suspended Paul Winters and Alan Nolan and the injured Cian O’Sullivan, somehow remained in the hunt.

Late goals from Donnacha Ryan and Jonathan McGuirk, both sublime efforts, were just reward for their efforts but came slightly too late in the day to spare them their fate.

With the wind at their backs, early points from Matt McCaffrey and Ben Coffey helped settle Lucan with Lorcan Doolin opening the St Brigid’s account by the 4^th minute.

Ciaran Dowling, Kevin Fitzgerald and Charlie Keher extended the Lucan lead but their opponents trimmed their deficit by the end of the first quarter thanks to points from McGuirk and the impressive Darren McLoughlin.

A brace of Coffey frees helped build a healthy buffer for Lucan and McCaffrey added two further points from play to leave his side 0-11 to 0-6 clear by half-time.

Colm Walsh added to their tally within seconds of the restart and Dowling should have raised the first green flag on the afternoon in the 35^th minute but he blazed over the crossbar from close range with the goal at his mercy.

Two McGuirk frees ensured that St Brigid’s kept in touch and a smart score on the turn by Tom Mohan brought further energy to their comeback ambitions.

However, Coffey began to exert a strong influence on proceedings as he scored four points inside six minutes, leaving Lucan sitting pretty with an eight-point advantage by the 48^th minute.

St Brigid’s were handed a lifeline in the 52^nd minute as McGuirk was fouled close to goal but his resultant penalty, while well-struck, whistled past the left-hand upright of Sean McClelland.

Andrew Dunphy drove forward to pop over two inspirational points for the Blanchardstown outfit and an unstoppable finish by Ryan, following an excellent fetch by James O’Connell, saw them close the gap to four points.

Darragh Lyons stemmed the momentum briefly with a late Lucan point but there was sufficient time for McGuirk to pull spectacularly to the net, a classy conclusion to a contest of variable quality.

Scorers – Lucan Sarsfields: B Coffey 0-9 (5f); C Dowling 0-4; M McCaffrey, C Keher 0-3 each; C Walsh 0-2, K Fitzgerald, D Lyons 0-1 apiece. St Brigid’s: J McGuirk 1-6 (0-5f); D Ryan 1-2; A Dunphy 0-3; D McLoughlin 0-2; L Doolin, T Mohan 0-1 apiece.

Lucan Sarsfields: S McClelland; S Coffey, P Rigney, L Walsh; C Crummey, J Bellew, M McCaffrey; K Fitzgerald, C Walsh; R Smith, B Coffey, J Behan; C Dowling, P Crummey, C Keher. Subs: D Flannery for Behan (half-time), C Kennedy for Fitzgerald (54), M Coogan for Smith (56), D Lyons for Dowling (60).

St Brigid’s: K O’Sullivan; B O’Sullivan, C Doyle, J O’Neill; B Moran, R McLoughlin, A Dunphy; M Kavanagh, L Doolin; D McLoughlin, D Ryan, J O’Connell; J McGuirk, M Fraine, T Mohan. Subs: L Ryan for Fraine (36).

Referee: Mark Ryan (St Patrick’s Palmerstown).