Charlestown Sarsfields qualified for the County Under-21 B final with a decisive 2-13 to 2-9 victory over Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin in full blooded semi-final encounter played at the home grounds of Parke G.A.A. Club recently.
The Sarsfields are the reigning champions at this level and they were full value for their victory as they took on their West Mayo opponents on their home patch so to speak and sent out a message loud and clear thah they are fully intent on holding onto their crown and it will take a good team to lower their colours on the evidence of this very good and composed performance.
The Sarsfields set the tone from the start with Martin McCormack clipping over a superb point with barely thirty seconds played. Parke responded with a fine score of their own before Paul Towey showcased all his talents with a 1-1 blast inside two minutes as the green and white took a firm grip.
The green and white were that bit slicker and craftier all over the pitch and with Towey in red hot form it didn`t take him long to add another point to his rising tally as his pace and movement tormented a succession of Parke defenders all of whom had no answer to the threat he continually posed.
Conor O`Donoghue stormed forward from his wing back station to fire over two magnificent points with Martin McCormack also getting in on the act as he too scored a replica of his first point with another terrific effort from play. The Sarsfields were in pole position as they led 1-6 to 0-2 with things looking ominous for the home side who just couldn`t hit the target with any kind of regularity or accuracy as shots drifted wide from favourable scoring positions. Credit must be given to Sarsfields keeper Ciaran Honeyman who made a brilliant point blank save ten minutes in to keep his goal intact with Eoghan Beirne blocking the subsequent rebound as the Parke amalgamation knew they needed to make a statement of intent before the game had drifted away from them.
The Sarsfields continued to boss the exchanges for the remainder of the half with Jack Mahon extending their lead before the home side got the score they so craved when they goaled on the stroke of half time to bring them right back into contention as Sarsfields headed to the dressingrooms 1-7 to 1-3 in front and deservedly so it must be said.
If the Sarsfields had any lingering doubts about their ability to sustain their challenge after the disappointment conceding a late goal they were quickly cast aside as they floored Parke with a one two combination of a Paul Towey point followed quickly by a Paddy Goldrick goal as he fly hacked the ball to the net to strengthen the Sarsfields grip on the match.
The West Mayo lads huffed and puffed and threw everything at the Sarsfields in the final quarter in a vain bid to plot their way into a match they never really got to the pitch of truth to tell.
The shadow of Paul Towey continued to haunt the Parke defence every time the ball crossed the half way line as he teased and danced his way towards the Parke goal and kicked two fantastic points in the process. Jack Mahon and Matt Lenehan also got in on the act with a couple of neat points as the Sarsfields continued to keep their opposition at arms length.
The Sarsfields suffered a blow when Paddy Goldrick was black carded with ten minutes left which weakened their hold on the middle of the field. The West Mayo lads piled on the pressure as they went all out attack but the green and white defensive line held firm with Conor O`Donoghue, Eoghan Beirne, Darragh Casey, Sean Dunleavy all manning the trenches as they repelled a succession of Parke`s most dangerous forays. The West Mayo side did tag on 1-2 in the closing stages to give the scoreboard a more respectable ok but it was mission accomplished for the Sarsfields as they can now look forward to a final date against another West Mayo side Balla in what looks a very tasty and intriguing final pairing. Paul Towey was the outstanding player on the pitch illuminating the match with some moments of genuine class with his final tally of 1-6 or thereabouts telling all one needs to know about his contribution to a game he lit up from the throw-in. Conor O`Donoghue, Matt Lenehan, Sean Dunleavy, Jack Mahon, Jack Brennan were also very impressive as was Eoghan Beirne with Darragh Casey, Ciaran Honeyman, Jack Brennan, Martin McCormack, Paddy Goldrick and Niall Drudy, Cian Craig and Rurai Cullen all contributing to a fine overall team performance . Well done to the Martin Mulvaney and his management team who got a right good tune out of the lads and refocused their minds after the blip against Ardnaree with the final very much a fifty -fifty game they have a great chance of winning and completing what would be a most noteworthy under-21double. For now all eyes on Balla as they have plenty of talent and menace in their squad well capable of taking down the green and white if the attitude and focus is not less than one hundred percent.