Club Archive - Original
This Sarfields archive page originally published by Cathal McGuinness LINK (retired club website)
Sarsfields Capture 1st Title: 1980
Sarfields reached their first Senior county final in 1980 against Meelick-Eyrecourt played in Duggan Park Ballinasloe, captained by Sean Kelly (also the team trainer!). Sarsfields emerged victorious mainly through the accurate free taking of Michael Mulkerrins to take their first ever County title. Sarsfields then went on to capture their first Connacht title, before going down to Cork side St.Finbar's on a score of 2-11 to 1-3.
The winning Sarsfields teams and substitutes: Michael Conneely, Martin Dolan, J.J Madden, Vincent Kelly, Michael Murray, Sean Kelly (Cpt), Tommy Fox, Jimmy Cooney, Noel Morrissey, Pat Lyons, Tommy Shea, Michael Mulkerrins, Sean Shea, Jimmy Kelly, Mattie Conneely. Subs: Tommy Kenny, Joe Dolan, Pat Hynes, Frank Kenny, Larry Fox, Liam Mulkerrins, Michael Ward, Benny Wade, Gerry Earls, Tommy Morrissey.
Sarsfields Capture 2nd title: 1989
Sarsfields captured their second senior county title in 1989 and ended the eighties as they had began it with success. On this occasion Sarsfields defeated Athenry in St.Brendans Park Loughrea, captained by the great Michael "Hopper" McGrath. The final score was Sarsfields 3-7, Athenry 1-8, with Joe Cooney earning Connacht Tribune Sports Star of the week and Tommy Kenny earning the Galway Bay FM man of the match award. Sarsfields went on to win the Connacht title but their All-Ireland hopes were dented by Kilkenny side Shamrocks inspired by the legendary Fennelly brothers, who later went on to claim the title.
The winning Sarsfields team: Tommy Kenny, Benny Wade, Brendan Cooney, Pakie Cooney, Donal Keane , Michael Cooney, Gerry McGrath, Noel Morrissey, Adian Donohue, Michael Kenny, Joe Cooney, Michael Mulkerrins, Peter Cooney, Michael McGrath, Padraig Kelly. SUBS: Mattie Connelly for Peter Cooney, Jimmy Cooney for Pakie Cooney.
Glory Years part 1: 1992
In 1992 Sarsfields eventually captured their third county title at the second time of asking. Their opponents Carnmore staged a spirited comeback clawing back a 7 point deficit inspired by their wing back Declan Collins to earn a draw, the final whistle couldn't come quick enough for Sarsfields supporters. For the replay Sarsfields welcomed backed Noel Morrissey and Sarsfields emerged victorious on a score line of Sarsfields 1-14, Carnmore 1-5, with Padraig Kelly receiving the Galway Bay FM man of the match award from his new position of wing back. Sarsfields then went on to capture their third Connacht title and went forward to face Buffers Alley in the All-Ireland semi final in Wexford park, the long journey was well worth for the Sarsfields supports as the team reached their first ever All-Ireland. The game will be remembered for the mistakes made by Buffers Alley 47 year old goalkeeper Henry Butler. Sarsfields faced Munster and Limerick champions Killmallock in the All-Ireland club final of 1993. Sarsfields edged into a 0-11 to 1-1 half-time lead, but in the second half Kilmallock staged a mini revival scoring 1-1, but that was as good as it got for the Limerick side as this great Sarsfields team went on to record a historic victory. Final score Sarsfields 1-17, Kilmallock 2-7, Padraig Kelly capped a fine season with another solid performance which earned him the man of the match award (and a place on the Galway team).
Sarsfields team and substitutes: Tommy Kenny, Pakie Cooney, Brendan Cooney, Michael Cooney, Padraig Kelly, Donal Keane, Willie Earls, Noel Morrissey, Joe Cooney, Michael McGrath, Joe McGrath, Adian Donohue, Peter Kelly, Michael Kenny, Peter Cooney. SUBS: Gerry Donohue, Jimmy Cooney, Gabriel Leslie, John Keane, Michael Strafford, Benny Wade, Joe Dolan, Enda Morrissey, Tony Ward.
Sarsfields went on to retain the county title that they had won the previous year by once again defeating Carnmore, this time at the first time of asking. But this game is not best remembered for its hurling as a "scrap" broke out near the end of the game, but games are won on the score board and not with the fists, and Sarsfields maintained their 100% records in county finals by recording a 1-10 to 0-4 victory. Once again they went on to retain their Connacht title before making the trip to London to dispose of the challenge of Sean Tracy's to reach the All-Ireland semi final for a clash with Leinster and Offaly champions St. Ryangh's. The turning point in the game came when Michael Kenny scored a "fluke" as the Ryangh's keeper failed to hold the greasy sliotar. Sarsfields then went on to claim victory on a score line of Sarsfields 1-11, St.Ryangh's 1-7. Sarsfields were now on the brink of history as only Toomevara stood between them and a second All-Ireland title. But trailing by 2-4 to 0-4 at half time things looked bleak for Sarsfields, they showed their worth by drawing level with a brace of points early in the second half before Toomevara goaled again, and with five minutes remained things looked good for Toomevara leading 3-6 to 0-12. But this Sarsfields was one team that refused to lie down and through goal poacher supreme Michael Kenny with the aid of a sublime pass from Joe Cooney who grabbed the sliotar from a Padraig Kelly side line cut and somehow (nobody knows how he does these things!!) slipped an underarm hand pass to "bottler" who let fly from an impossible angle, the dream was still alive. Game on! sides level surely there could be only one winner now and through the master free taker Adian Donohue, courtesy of a close in free and a 65 sealed a memorable victory. What a game, what a victory, what a team. Sarsfields became the first club to retain the Tommy Moore cup, on a final score line of Sarsfields 1-14, Toomevara 3-6.
Sarsfields Team and substitutes: Tommy Kenny, Pakie Cooney, Brendan Cooney, Michael Cooney, Padraig Kelly, Donal Keane, Willie Earls, Noel Morrissey, Joe Cooney, Michael McGrath, Joe McGrath, Adian Donohue, Peter Kelly, Michael Kenny, Peter Cooney. SUS: Francis Madden, John Keane, Michael Strafford, Gabriel Leslie, Padraig Forde, Adrian McMahon, Noel Earls, Michael Ward, John Noone, Dermot Hynes, James Ward, Thomas Strafford, Paul Manicle, Alan Moran.
Glory Years part 2: 1993
Sarsfields capture 5th title: 1995
Sarsfields captured their 5th county title in 1995 defeating Portumna on a scoreline of 0-17 to 1-9, with the half forward line producing all but one of the 17 points scored, Joe McGrath received the Galway Bay FM man of the match award. Once again Sarsfields qualified for the All-Ireland semi final with a victory over Tooreen in the Connacht final. Munster and Clare champions Sixmilebridge provided the challenge in the semi final, but minus the injured duo of Padraig Kelly and Tommy Kenny Sarsfields failed, going down in the end on a scoreline of 5-11 to 1-12.
Sarsfields Team: Tommy Kenny, Pakie Cooney, Brendan Cooney, Michael Cooney, Padraig Kelly, Gerry McGrath, Willie Earls, Noel Morrissey, Joe Cooney, Michael McGrath, Adian Donohue, Peter Kelly, Michael Kenny (Cpt), Peter Cooney.
Sarsfields capture a 6th title: 1997
1997 proved to be another successful year for the club with the capturing of another county title defeating Clarenbridge. The final never quite a dull affair with the experience of Sarsfields seeing them through in the end against the youthful Clarenbridge side, winning out in the end on a scoreline of 1-11 to 1-6 with Joe McGrath receiving the Galway Bay FM man of the match award. After disposing of Tooreen in the Connacht Sarsfields qualified to meet Ulster and Antrim champions Dunloy. In what John McIntyre described as "the greatest club game I have ever seen" Sarsfields and Dunloy played out a thriller ending in a draw. Adian Donohue was the star of the show with a personal tally of 1-10. The game ended in Dunloy salvaging a well earned draw in the dying seconds of the game. The replay produced one of the best hurling games, in one of the most exciting finishes Sarsfields down to 13 men after Donal Keane and then Michael Ward had been sent off, were 2 points down. Cometh the hour cometh the man enter Joe Cooney, Joe was injured but came off the bench to produce a spellbinding performance within second off his arrival he pointed a line ball from all of sixty yards and then commanded the center back position. Sarsfields went on to secure victory on a final scoreline of 1-15 to 1-11. Awaiting Sarsfields in the All-Ireland final were Leinster and Offaly champions Birr, this game proved a bridge too far as Sarsfields were over whelmed by fresher and more efficient Birr emerging victorious on a scoreline of 1-13 to 0-9.
Sarsfields Team: Tommy Kenny, Gerry McGrath, Brendan Cooney, Donal Keane, Padraig Kelly, Michael Ward, Willie Earls, Noel Morrissey, Joe Cooney, Padraig Forde, Michael McGrath, Adian Donohue, Peter Kelly, Joe McGrath, Peter Cooney.
