Sarsfields in control

Leinster SF Quarter-finals/ Sarsfields 1-12 Éire Óg 0-8 : A rampant second-half display by Sarsfields of Kildare gave the Newbridge…

Leinster SF Quarter-finals/ Sarsfields 1-12 Éire Óg 0-8: A rampant second-half display by Sarsfields of Kildare gave the Newbridge side a deserved seven-point win over an Éire Óg side who faded badly in this Leinster club quarter-final tie at Dr Cullen Park yesterday.

The opening half of this encounter provided no hint of the subsequent Éire Óg collapse.

The home side looked the better team in the opening 30 minutes, opening up a 0-3 to no-score lead before conceding a soft seventh-minute goal to Sarsfields half forward Gary White.

At half time the sides were tied at 1-4 to 0-7.

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Éire Óg regained the lead with a 35th minute point from play by left half-back Christy Bolger but that was to prove their last score of the game.

Anchored by the superb midfield pairing of Dermot Earley and Alan Barry, the Kildare champions went on to score eight unanswered points during the rest of the game.

Sarsfields centre forward Morgan O'Sullivan contributed a quick-fire three points from play in as many minutes.

By the end Sarsfields were in complete control as they headed for a deserved place in the Leinster club semi-finals where they will meet Louth champions, Mattock Rangers.

SARSFIELDS: G Slicker; N Campbell, M MacIntyre, M Dunne; C Duffy, L Sex, N Hedderman; Dermot Earley, A Barry (0-1); G White (1-3, 0-3 frees), M O'Sullivan (0-3), E Freaney; A Smyth (0-1), C Dempsey (0-4, 0-2 frees), S McKenzie-Smith. Subs: P Campbell for McKenzie-Smith; M Browne for N Campbell; David Earley for Smith.

ÉIRE ÓG: G McGill; J Ryan, A Corcoran, V Kavanagh; P Cashin, C McCarthy, C Bolger (0-1); E Phelan, D Walker; T Dowling, J Morrissey (0-2), B Hennessy; S Rea (0-2, 0-1 free), A O'Brien, B Carbery (0-3). Subs: C Gibbons for Hennessy; A Kelly for McCarthy; K Hession for Dowling.

Referee: M Deegan (Laois).