Sarsfields all but secure league final place with victory over Park-Ratheniska

Sarsfields have one foot in this year’s Divison 1 Ladies League final as their goal-scoring threat proved the difference against Park-Ratheniska this evening. 

Sarsfields 3-4

Park-Ratheniska 1-6

Sarsfields began the game at a ferocious pace as Lorna O’Sullivan opened the scoring with a fine point from play. Park-Ratheniska, now missing the attacking exploits of Erone Fitzpatrick as she heads for a new challenge in Australia, got their first two scores as Tara Byrne split the posts before she setup Laura Crawford after a superb run. 

The net would be rattled for the first time as a Laura Marie Maher played a one-two with O’Sullivan before blasting the ball past Danielle Moore in the Park-Ratheniska goal. Byrne pointed in reply as both sides were showing a strong defensive structure with scores becoming hard to come by.

Moore stood tall shortly after as O’Sullivan capitalised on a poor kick-out but couldn’t get the power into her shot with Moore saving well. It wouldn’t take long for a second goal for Sarsfields as Meaghan Dunne played the ball to Maher before she repaid the favour from earlier with O’Sullivan getting a goal. 

Park-Ratheniska were then awarded a penalty by Pat Moran as Byrne was fouled in the square. Laura Crawford stepped up and dispatched the penalty into the top right corner. Claire Conlon pointed a free for the final score of the half as her side led by two points at the break.

Sarsfields’ two-point lead wouldn’t last long after the break as Park-Ratheniska drew the game level for the first time with Laois star Anna Healy pointing off her left boot before Crawford added to her earlier goal with a white flag. The game remained level for over 10 minutes as both sides attacked but yet again the defensive structures stayed strong. 

Conlon finally pushed Sarsfields ahead as she pointed her second free, a lead that Sarsfields would hold until the final whistle. A third goal followed with Maher getting her second of the evening. Crawford took her tally to 1-2 as she dissected the posts with Conlan getting the final score of the game with her third free.

The win pushes Sarsfields to second place on 15 points along side Portlaoise who have two games left to play.