Courageous Sash Boys win Féile A Final.

There were emotional scenes in St Conleth’s Park on Easter Sunday last as Sarsfields
retained their Féile A title against last year’s final oppononents, Athy.

By Tony Ryan.

Losing by six points with eight minutes remaining, 2010 Féile A champions
Sarsfields looked to be about to surrender their crown to an accomplished Athy team.
However the fact that this Sarsfields team had came through some tight games on
the way to the final stood to them as the game, in those final minutes appeared to
be moving inexorably out of their reach. The team showed great courage as they
overturned that six point deficit to win by a single point in exciting nail biting finale.

Centre forward Conan Hayes led by example scoring 1-4 as well as being the game’s
joint top scorer, along with full forward Peter Howard but it was Howard, Sarsfields’
top goal scorer throughout the campaign, who was responsible for Sarsfields dramatic
reversal of fortunes late in the second half with his second goal of the afternoon, with
less than eight minutes remaining that lit the fuse of the Sarsfields’ spirited revival.

Athy were quickest to settle with Rory Feeley and Thomas Foley kicking a point
apiece with just three minutes gone. Sarsfields responded with a Conan Hayes point
and Peter Howard got a goal for the Sash to edge them 1-1 to 0-2 ahead. From the
kick out Athy midfielder Kristof Jenei won possession in the air, went on a run and
sent a pin point pass into center forward Tony Martin who netted from the edge of
the square. Both sides then exchanged points but Athy went in at the break with the
narrowest of leads after Darragh Roycroft pointed, leaving them 1-5 to 1-4 in front.

After the resumption Athy carried the games to Sarsfields, creating scoring chances
that they converted. By the 38th minute they had opened up a four point lead after
highly effective full forward Darragh Roycroft added two more points. Athy extended
their lead to six, 1-11 to 1-5 as Rory Feeley scored two successive points. With ten
minutes remaining Athy were in a commanding position as they successfully cut off
the supply lines to the Sarsfields midfield and forwards. Then disaster struck for Athy
as midfielder Kristof Jenei who had been very impressive had to be replaced after he
was injured in a tackle and treated on the pitch for a suspected dislocated collar bone
the ball close to the sideline.

Sarsfields revival began after Peter Howard received a pass from Sarsfields
outstanding halfback James Healy. Howard powered through the center to unleash a
powerful shot to score his second goal of the afternoon and reduce the deficit to three
points. The goal rejuvenated Sarsfields and like a shark scenting blood the players
collectively sensed that victory was not beyond them and with confidence renewed
they set about overhauling Athy’s lead. Within five minutes Sarsfields had gained
parity. After working the ball out from the defence, Peter Howard went on a solo run
and just as he was about to be surrounded and his run halted by three Athy players
he off loaded the ball to the unmarked Conan Hayes, who drove his shot from close
range past a diving Marc Prior in the Athy goal.

Such are the vicissitudes of sport that Sarsfields having earlier been unable to launch

effective attacks were now firmly in control and the Athy defence found itself under
siege as the Sash boys swarmed forward in droves in search of the lead. The team
was rewarded for its collective courage and endeavor and hit the front accompanied
by a tumultuous roar from the Sarsfields supporters in the stands after both Captain
Shea Ryan and Stephen Creaton raised white flags in quick succession. But the nail
biting drama was not over yet as Athy pressed hard for a goal in the dying moments.
A powerful shot from Tony Martin appeared to have reached its target much to the
premature delight of the Athy followers in the stands, only for Sarsfields goalkeeper
Colm Galvin to emerge with the ball and clear it out toward the sideline, capping
off an excellent performance between the posts. Athy closed the gap back to the
minimum as normal time was up with a point from Darragh Roycroft. For the two or
so remaining minutes of injury time Sarsfields’ cleverly and confidently controlled
the ball with some excellent kick passing as the clock counted down until the referee’s
final whistle signaled the beginning of jubilant celebrations and confirmation of
Sarsfields’ passage to the National Féile Finals in Cork at the end of June.

Colm Galvin, David Marnel, Tadgh McQuillen, Sean Browne, Eoin O’Connor, Gary
Maguire, James Healy, Shea Ryan Capt 0-1, Conor Hartley, Eoin Donnolly, Conan
Hayes 1-4 (2f), Rory O.Donnell, Alan Donnolly, Peter Howard 2-1, Stephen Creaton
0-1. Subs: Brian McDonald for Eoin Donnelly, Cian Costigan for Stephen Creaton.

Athy: Marc Prior, Tiernan King, Patrick Ryan, Davis Kelly, Patrick Wysocki, Niall
Brenan, Kieran Farrell, Kristof Jenei, Rorry Feeley 0-2, Thomas Foley 0-2, Tony
Martin 1-2, Barry Kelly, Darren Donnelly, Darragh Roycroft 0-5, Paul Hyland 0-1.
Referee: Eoin Clifford, St Laurence’s