Sarsfields ease past Clonlara

MUNSTER CLUB HURLING - Sarsfields 0-26 Clonlara 0-10: CORK'S SARSFIELDS eased into the Munster club hurling semi-final following a comprehensive win over Clare side Clonlara at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday.

Sarsfields had a contest on their hands approaching the end of the first half, but they pulled away in stoppage-time, scoring four points without reply to lead 0-14 to 0-7 at the break. Michael Cussen started the sequence with a magnificent score and Robert O'Driscoll, Pat Ryan and captain Kieran Murphy also contributed.

Clonlara needed a quick start to the second half and a pointed free from Donal Madden offered some hope, but Sarsfields' devastating response effectively ended the game by the 43rd minute.

After a quiet opening half, Cussen burst into action and proved a right handful on the edge of the square. He scored his second point after controlling the ball sweetly on his hurley and was then fouled for another before setting up Ryan for one of his three points from play. By this stage Sarsfields had raced ahead by 0-20 to 0-8 entering the closing quarter.

Cian McCarthy shone in the remainder, supplying four more points to his side's tally, including one from a 57th-minute penalty.

SARSFIELDS:A Kennedy; R Ryan, J Barry, C O'Sullivan; D Kearney, C Leahy, B McCarthy; P Ryan (0-12, nine frees), T Óg Murphy (0-2); C McCarthy (0-6, 0-1 from penalty), K Murphy (0-1), R Murphy; R O'Driscoll (0-3), M Cussen (0-2), P Barry. Subs: D Roche for (P Barry 52 mins), P O'Flynn for (P Ryan 55 mins), G O'Loughlin for O'Driscoll and J Murphy for R Murphy (both 57 mins), D Kenneally for McCarthy (59 mins).

CLONLARA:G O'Connell; S Nihill, J Moloney, P Collins, captain; N O'Connell, D O'Donovan, P Nihill; D Conway, C O'Donovan (0-1); J Conlon (0-1), T O'Donovan (0-1), P O'Hare; T Lynch (0-1), D Madden (0-6, 5 frees), D Honan. Subs: B Woods for (P Nihill 19 mins), B Moloney for Madden (52 mins), D O'Meara for Collins (53 mins), J Murphy for O'Hare (59 mins).

Referee:J Ryan (Tipperary).