Strong finish sees Sarsfields past Feakle into Munster final

Sarsfields 1-25 Feakle 1-17

Sarsfields arrested Cork's eight-year losing streak in the Munster Club SHC, reeling off the final eight points to see off Clare champions Feakle.

Aaron Myers blasted 1-06 from play while county panellists Jack O’Connor and Cathal McCarthy notched 0-04 apiece as the Rebel runners-up put themselves within an hour of provincial glory.

They become the first Leeside team since Glen Rovers in 2016 to reach the Munster decider but a monumental challenge awaits if they are to avenge last year’s defeat to four-in-a-row-chasers Ballygunner.

Most clubs enter their province off the crest of a wave. Sars were coming off a painful county final defeat to divisional side Imokilly and made some notable changes.

There was a senior debut for goalkeeper Ben Graham, Cillian Roche came in at centre-back, with Eoghan Murphy shifting to full-back, and McCarthy got his first start of an injury-disrupted year in midfield.

Feakle were backed by the wind and carried their momentum into the opening minutes with an Oisín O’Connor white flag straight from the throw-in.

They scored five of the first six points, with Eibhear Quilligan three times picking out Oisín Donnellan, who slotted two points and was fouled for a third.

Sars misdirected nine wides in the opening 20 minutes - and 16 across the hour - but they eventually began to fix their radar and slow Feakle’s progress.

McCarthy nabbed a brace and corner-back Paul Leopold launched another between the posts.

They exchanged facsimile points with Steven Conway and Jack O’Connor catching and converting from long puck-outs within seconds of each other.

Myers then lit up the Páirc with a 1-02 burst in the space of three minutes. The first point originated from a Daniel Kearney hook