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All-Ireland Club SHC semi-final: Sarsfields (Cork) 0-18 Slaughtneil (Derry) 0-17

Slaughtneil missed out on a place in next month’s All-Ireland Club SHC final by the narrowest of margins after suffering a heartbreaking semi-final loss to Sarsfields in St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge on Sunday.

The Derry champions won a fifth Ulster title earlier this month, but they have yet to reach the All-Ireland and this represented their best chance.

Sarsfields, who were beaten by Imokilly in the Cork final, rode their luck right until the final minutes of the game as Mark McGuigan’s goal-bound effort blew over the crossbar as Johnny Crowley’s men held on for a one-point win.

Shane McGuigan might have won a last-gasp free for Slaughtneil, but James Owens blew him for over-carrying instead. Although Aaron Myers fired wide, it proved to be the final act of an enthralling encounter.

Yet, the Emmet’s will feel hard done by over several call from Owens. The Wexford official booked Brendan Rogers and Eoghan Murphy early on, but Murphy escaped a second booking moments later when dragging Rogers to the ground.

Paul Leopold also avoided a second yellow after conceding a free shortly after being booked, but the eventual Man-of-the-Match Jack O’Connor was perhaps the most fortunate player to remain on the pitch.

Early in the second half, he caught Cormac O’Doherty high and late, but escaped with a booking. And yet, Slaughtneil had amble opportunities to win the game themselves which will only add to the pain of this defeat.

Of their five All-Ireland semi-final defeats, this one will sting the most. Indeed, O’Doherty hit a hat-trick of first half wides as Sarsfields edged the opening half 0-8 to 0-7.

Colm McCarthy might have scored a goal inside the first 20 seconds only for Oisin O’Doherty to make a smart save but the Cork men were soon two points to the good thanks to Myers and Daniel Hogan (free).

Four of Slaughtneil’s opening five points were frees from O’Doherty and he had them head midway through the first half.

Jack O’Connor hit two from play at the other end while Bryan Murphy landed a stunning point from play as O’Doherty’s accuracy deserted him as he missed three chances in quick succession before landing much-needed ’65.

Shane McGuigan’s point left just one between the sides and Slaughtneil were back on level terms on the restart as the Derry ace split the posts again.

Myers and O’Doherty exchanged frees before the former moved Paul McCormack’s men back into the lead before being caught by a stray hurl from Jack O’Connor.

Back-to-back points from Eamon Cassidy and Meehaul McGrath moved the Emmet’s into a three-point lead for the first time in the game. However, there was never more than a puck of a ball between the teams from the off and so it would prove to the end as Sarsfields rallied to the cause.

O’Connor hit brace of points after Myres had found the target and Shane O’Regan followed with another point from play to edge the Munster champions ahead inside the final 10 minutes.

Both teams threw everything at it in the closing minute as Sarsfield’s moved two ahead only to be reeled back. In injury-time, they went two ahead again via Myers and Liam Healy before Shane McGuigan and Cathal McCarthy exchanged points.

Slaughtneil’s final point of the game ought to have been a goal as O’Doherty found his captain Mark McGuigan in space at the back post. However, his shot flew over, rather than under the crossbar, as Sarsfields breathed a massive sigh of relief.

A goal at that stage might have been hard on Sarsfields, but the manner in which Slaughtneil lost out was certainly harsh on the Derry side as their wait for an All-Ireland final appearance goes on.

Sarsfields scorers: Aaron Myers 0-5 (0-2fs), Daniel Hogan 0-4 (0-4fs), Jack O’Connor 0-4, Cathal McCarthy 0-2, Bryan Murphy 0-1, Shane O’Regan 0-1, Luke Healy 0-1.

Slaughtneil scorers: Cormac O’Doherty 0-9 (0-8fs, 0-1 65), Shane McGuigan 0-3, Ruairi Ó Mianáin 0-1, Meehaul McGrath 0-1, Eamon Cassidy 0-1, Shea Cassidy 0-1.

Here’s a recap of how Sunday’s All-Ireland Club SHC semi-final unfolded. . .