Slaughtneil v Sarsfields: Derry club aim to end All-Ireland Club Hurling hoodoo
The first year of the Covid-19 pandemic meant there was no chance of a 2020-21 All-Ireland Club Championship title, but Slaughtneil went on to beat Ulster 1-14 the following year to set up the 2018 Ulster defeat. Avenging Ballyclan secured what was effectively a fourth provincial title in five seasons. 0-10 against Aziz.
It set up another All-Ireland campaign for Michael McShane’s side, but Derry were beaten for a third time by the eventual Tommy Moore Cup winners, aided by two goals from Billy O’Keefe Watford club Ballygunner won 2-19 to 1-17 at Parnell Park.
O’Keefe’s fourth-minute strike gave Watford a slim 1-8 to 0-9 lead at the break, with the game’s key moment coming after the resumption when he conceded his second goal The team leads by six points.
Slaughtnier could not trail by another four points for the rest of the game and Shane McGuigan’s stoppage time goal came too late for the Emmett side.
Two weeks later, Ballygunner celebrated one of the most dramatic three wins in an All-Ireland final, defeating Ballyhale-seeking Ballyhale, substitute Harry Ruddle scoring the final goal from 25 meters to win 2-17 to 1-19.
Watford are strongly tipped to be Slaughterney’s opponents again this weekend at Newbridge, but Cork’s Sarsfield side have other ideas, finishing 3-20 to 2-19 The stunning scoreline sealed the provincial final, denying Ballygunner’s ambitions of a fourth consecutive Munster title. Victory two weeks ago.
Sarsfield were beaten in the county final by divisional side Imogene, although Jack O’Connor and Cathal McCarthy were part of the Rebels’ squad for the Cork All-Ireland final in July. There are no starting players in the game.
Shane O’Regan came on as a second-half substitute to help his side win the Munster final 2-3.
