After a week when Sarsfields decided to formally etch their greatest hero into club folklore, their manager Johnny Crowley felt the spiritual guidance of Teddy McCarthy at play. Leading this AIB All-Ireland club semi-final by two points in injury time, Sarsfields almost had it all taken away in a flash when Slaughtneil’s Cormac O’Doherty placed Mark McGuigan, who had the goal at his mercy. With Sars goalkeeper Ben Graham converging, McGuigan’s snapshot flew just over the crossbar from close range and Slaughtneil couldn’t fashion another chance as Sars became the first Cork club to reach the final since Newtownshandrum in 2006.
Read more: Recap as Slaughtneil suffer more All-Ireland semi-final heartbreak as Sarsfield claim controversial one-point win Read more: Tyrone GAA ‘winning the war’ against organised crime gangs as pirate operations are shut down “It was six inches from going home deflated or going home absolutely elated and we’re absolutely elated, obviously enough,” said Crowley. “You have to feel sorry for McGuigan but, look, that’s the way the dice rolls and thankfully it’s rolled up a six for us.” Who rolled the dice? Well, a few days earlier, Sarsfields voted unanimously to name their club grounds after Teddy McCarthy, the Cork dual All-Ireland winner who died suddenly in June of last year.
Crowley also acknowledged club stalwarts Conor McCarthy, father of current player Cathal, and Ger Mohally, who have passed in recent times too. “I�.
