Sarsfields Trounce Breaffy
Charlestown Sarsfields made their return to Division 1 A of the Welcome Inn Senior league a winning one as they blew away the challenge of Breaffy with some conviction with the Sarsfields triumphing on a scoreline of 1-12 to 0-10. The Sarsfields were far from flattered by the margin of victory as they put the West Mayo side to the sword with some fast moving , slick football which had the visitors in all kinds of trouble pretty much from the throw-in.
The Sarsfields put some indifferent early season form behind them and turned in a display full of verve, dash and promise all of which augurs well for the coming months as they look to build on the platform this victory should undoubtedly provide. New manager Paul Jordan and his selectors Ronan Kenny and Noel Gallagher got their team selection bang on the money as they blitzed Breaffy from the start and had 1-4 on the board early doors with the prolific Jack Reilly once again underlining his scoring ability with another fine goal to add to a growing list of quality scores he has notched since his promotion to the senior team some two years ago.
The Sarsfields were focused and composed in everything they did in the first thirty minutes with their support and interplay finding all kinds of holes in what was a very porous looking Breaffy back line. The Sarsfields were operating at a different level to the visitors who just could not get to grips with the fluid attacking style of the home side who made their dominance count on the scoreboard as they racked up a fine tally of 1-9 and conceded just a meagre 0-3 at the other end of the field with the defence presenting a much more formidable and tighter unit than in previous matches.
The home supporters afforded the team a rapturous reception at the interval and it was well and truly merited as they were treated to a display that contained everything one associates with the Sarsfields when they are at their rampant best.
The Sarsfields were hoping to avoid a second half fade out which has dogged them in recent times and this they managed to do in the main as they kept the Breaffy challenge at arms length for most if not all of the second period. While their second half display fell some way short of their flawless opening salvo as they started to coast and rest on their laurels so to speak, they never looked in any great danger as the defence manned up and presented an impenetrable barrier to a Breaffy side that possessed neither the guile nor the invention to fashion any kind of a goal chance.
In Breaffy’s defence however, they did raise their level considerably after an abject first half performance and provided more of a threat and started to make some inroads on the scoreboard with some good points. They also managed to curb the Sarsfields attack as they limited the home side to three second half points which was perhaps the only negative on an otherwise fine overall performance from the Sarsfields as they got their league campaign off to the best possible start. The game as a contest was over long before the final whistle and this was a fine response from the Sarsfields after some erratic early season form which had seen them struggling for any kind of consistency and pattern in their play.
They found their mojo with aplomb however and when they put it all together they have some major strings to their bow and remain a stylish side with lots of good, fast moving and mobile players who are capable of taking it to anyone when in the zone. They had fine performances from Damien Ward who made a good fist in the unaccustomed role of full back.
The veteran Kevin Deignan competed with his usual ferocity and intensity with the McLoughlin brothers Gerard and Enda solid and effective in everything they did. Patrick Walsh had a good hour at centre back while David Caffery was faultless in the role of sweeper and cleared his lines with great diligence. The midfield duo of Thomas Parsons and Gareth O’Donnell lorded matters and ensured a rich harvest of possession for a forward line where Jack Reilly and Colm Maye were the scorers in chief as they displayed the full gamut of their skills with some fine point kicking.
Honourable mention also to young Kenneth Brennan in goals who had a steady hour with Patrick Lenehan, Niall Murphy and sub Joe McBrien also catching the eye and more than contributing to what was an excellent all round display which lifted the morale of the panel and management and affirmed the work they are doing on the training paddock.
