Sarsfields soldier to the last

Mullinahone ... 0-14 Thurles Sarsfields ... 0-14 No verdict at the high court of hurling yesterday. On through icy November they will hurl in Tipperary in search for the local champions.

If the replay - as yet not arranged, but certain to be next weekend - is as dramatic as this drawn county final, it will be remembered as a classic year.

Mullinahone, a village that has acquired a mythical glow in recent decades, did all to win but just failed to lift the cup in Semple Stadium yesterday. On song and six points clear as the game entered a wet and blustery final quarter, they looked a good bet.

Perhaps the desperate fear of losing at this stage for the third successive year was Thurles' salvation, but they hurled their way back into the match with a force that proved unstoppable.

It was a pair of substitutions that smacked of a last throw that changed the complexion of the game. First, the lively Matt O'Dowd sent over a pair of invaluable points that seemed to relieve the Thurles attack of a collective scoring block.

They outgunned Mullinahone by seven points to two over what was a gripping last period. But Thurles lived dangerously.

A Simon Mason 65 in the 61st minute left them trailing by one and, following the puck-out, John Lawlor directed a low and thoughtful ball downfield for his brother Pat, the other attacking substitution, to smartly clip over the bar.

Paddy Russell blew full time even as the white flags were raised.

Mullinahone had little luck. They lost their imperious wing-back Paul Kelly just two minutes into the final when he damaged a hamstring. Replacement Philip O'Shea stepped in and deputised admirably as they sauntered into a 0-5 to 0-2 lead after 15 minutes.

Thurles, physical and hard working, remained nicely in touch through a couple of frees from Cathal McIntyre and a fine shot from distance from John Lawlor. It was only after the restart that the occasion delivered on its potential.

Then Eoin Kelly, Mullinahone's latest prodigy, found enough space to tease and inevitably punish Sarsfields' last line with two fine points in the opening five minutes.

Paul Curran starred in an honest Mullinahone back line, clearing ball after ball under severe pressure, while Thurles worked themselves into serious trouble as their attacking lines went totally cold.

Mullinahone, meantime, broke for glory, with Brian O'Meara an immense physical presence during the critical phase of the game. Both John Lillis and John Lawlor tried to prevent his influence with little success.

The light but talented Eddie Carey also featured strongly for Mullinahone and John Leahy, the godfather of the current generation of Tipp lights, was never less than busy and, as ever, worth the admission price alone.

His point midway through the first half, when he was flush against the touchline near where the cup sat awaiting a new keeper, was in itself a lecture in balance and class.

But it was a flourish five minutes later, when he flicked the ball over Tommy Maher and then led half of the Thurles defence on a choreographed dance, that drew the involuntary ooh-la-las from stands where they are not easily impressed. His stroke tailed away from the posts, but that didn't matter; it was the best wide most of us ever saw.

But the Mullinahone legend will be concerned that neither he nor young Kelly or O'Meara could exert enough influence to close out the final.

Instead, Thurles rushed back and could have stolen it in the last minutes. The impish Lar Corbett spied a parcel of space in the Mullinahone defence and used his long stride to break clear; his stinging goal shot flew just over the bar.

A minute later, Corbett blew a gilt-edged point chance after a fine fetch and pass from Redser O'Grady. The town support was still ruing that opportunity when Conor Arrigan broke away to put Mullinahone two points clear in the final minute.

But Thurles just refused to accept another sad county final story and demonstrated great poise in the last 120 seconds.

They hurried out of Semple Stadium with the light falling but spirits high.

MULLINAHONE: C Doheny; D Hackett, P Curran, M Costello; K Vaughan, E O'Brien, P Kelly; E Carey (0-2), N Curran; P Croke (0-2, frees), B O'Meara, C Arrigan (0-1); E Kelly (0-4), J Leahy (0-4, 1 free), N Leahy (0-1). Subs: P O'Shea for P Kelly (2 mins inj.).

THURLES: C Carroll; S O'Shea, T Maher, G Mernagh; J Lillis, B Carrolll, J Lawlor; S Mason (0-3, 2 frees, 1 65), E Enright; T Collins, C McIntyre (0-2, 2 frees), T Ruth; G O'Grady (0-2), E Walshe, L Corbett (0-4). Subs: M O'Dowd (0-2) for C McIntyre (43 mins), P Lawlor (0-1) for E Walshe (43 mins).

Referee: P Russell