Sarsfields reach maiden final after dramatic win over Slaughtneil

Sarsfields are through to their first ever AIB GAA All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship final following a 0-18 to 0-17 victory over Slaughtneil at Cedral St Conleths, Newbridge.

The tie was effectively decided by a late flick of the sliotar as a goal-scoring opportunity for Mark McGuigan from right in front of the posts ended with a white flag.

That decided a marathon encounter between two clubs that were level five times up until a late burst from Aaron Myers, Liam Healy, and Cathal McCarthy.

That got Sars over the line, and makes them the first Cork club to make it to the final since Newtownshandrum in 2006.

The Munster champions were dogged – starting with a goal chance for Colm McCarthy that was batted away by Oisin O'Doherty. The sliotar went out to Myers and the corner-forward got an easy score inside 30 seconds.

Daniel Hogan then put over a brace of frees, while Cormac O’Doherty opened his account with a placed ball.

That was the start of a 0-04 run by the forward that first made his name known by winning a Hogan Cup with St Patrick's College in football, and it helped the Ulster side go in front at 0-05 to 0-03.

Sars responded by outscoring their far-away rivals 0-05 to 0-02 with Jack O’Connor and Hogan both scoring braces while Bryan Murphy got one. This helped the club gain a narrow 0-08 to 0-07 advantage at half-time.

The game restarted with Se McGuigan ensuring parity from play and Myers immediately retaliated for the Cork side.

Slaughtneil then out-scored Sars 0-05 to 0-01 with Cormac O’Doherty leading the pack with two frees, which gave them a three cushion at the 45th minute.

Sars tore that assumer, bit by bit, with Myers kick-starting the comeback from open play. O’Connor got two within a minute and Shane