Football

Thurles Sarsfields - Tipperary Minor Football County Champions 2005

Thurles Sarsfields won the County Minor Football title for the first time in our history in 2005. It is thought the club was first founded as a football club so maybe we're going back to our roots! Read Michael Dundon's match report on the 2005 County final that appeared in the Tipperary Star.

The victorious panel

Cidona County Minor Football Final 2005

Thurles Sarsfields 0-6  Arravale Rovers 0-4

By Michael Dundon (Tipperary Star)

Another milestone in the history of honours-laden Thurles Sarsfields as they captured the County Minor A Football title for the first time. They defeated the holders and strong favourites Arravale Rovers on a low scoring decider of 0-6 to 0-4.

Rovers entered the final with an impressive cv cluttered with successes at juvenile and minor level but on this occasion they were out-played by a very committed Sarsfields outfit several of whom were on the losing side last year when the Tipp boys won county under 16 honours at the expense of Durlas Og.

Conor Moloney breaks out of defence with the assistance of Captain David Shannon.

Two points separated the sides at the end but if possession and chances were the deciding factor, then Sarsfields would have won by much more handsomely. In the second half particularly they dominated but three goal opportunities were not availed of, as well as some pointable efforts which went wide off the posts.

The end result was that they were vulnerable to a late Arravale surge in which a goal bound effort was bravely charged down and later a Timmy Dalton piledriver from a twenty meter free was pushed over the bar.

It would have been an injustice to Sarsfields had they been caught because they were the better side. They played with aggression and confidence, using possession intelligently and never panicking when on the ball. The support for the man in possession was excellent and they continued to work hard right to the finish to clinch a memorable win.

They had to do so because Arravale had the potential to click into gear at any time and have shown in other outings how lethal they can be. However, with Key man Timmy Dalton being superbly shadowed by Brian White, much of the sting went out of the Tipp town attack, and it can rightly be said that the Sars win owed much to the excellence of the defence, with fullback Gareth Foxton (recently awarded Mid Tipperary Young Footballer of the Year) and Pa Bourke at halfback to the fore.

The victorious team and panel

Arravale opened brightly with Timmy Dalton pointing after two minutes. Sars captain David Shannon levelled three minutes later, and as the Thurles lads warmed to their task Michael Cahill and Scott Grey from a free, added to their tally to give them a two point lead at the end of the first quarter. It was a lively contest with play moving from end to end and Timmy Dalton from a free, raised the next flag in the 21st minute but two minutes later Scott Grey pointed for Sars after a quickly taken free. That's how it was at the break, 0-4 to 0-2 in favour of Sarsfields.

In the second half Sarsfields dominated for twenty five minutes but could not turn all that possession into scores. They missed three pointable chances before Ian Maher shot over the bar in the 13th minute, and same player almost goaled two minutes later. However, Cormac Molloy pointed an 18th minute free for Arravale to keep them in the hunt. Scott Grey's pointed free in the 22nd minute gave Sarsfields a three point advantage and this they held doggedly as Arravale began one last surge. Rovers stormed upfield and looked to have a goal in a scramble in the Thurles area but the shot was charged down and in injury time Timmy Dalton's 20 meter free was turned over for and Sarsfields were relieved but deserving winners by 2 points.

Sarsfields scorers - S. Grey 0-3, M. Cahill, I. Maher, D. Shannon 0-1 each.

Arravale scorers - T. Dalton 0-3, C. Molloy 0-1.

Sarsfields - Gordon Carey, Paul Connors, Gareth Foxton, Brian White, Pa Burke, Conor Moloney, Michael Gleeson, Padraig Maher, David Shannon, Michael Cahill, Scott Grey, Joseph O' Mahoney, Jody O' Grady, Aidan O' Mahoney, Ian Maher. Sub - Shane Maher for A O' Mahoney.

Arravale Rovers - Sean Walsh, Stephen Spillane, James Mulhaire, Michael O' Sullivan, Damien Kiely, Paul Ryan, Ned Lowry, Brian Jones, Jack O' Dwyer, James O' Leary, Cormac Molloy, Jason Sutton, Timmy Dalton, Alan Kenny, Stephen Quinn. Sub - Alan Kiely for Alan Kenny.

Referee - Derek O' Mahoney.

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