Cork SHC final: Cussen shines in Sars win
September 29, 2008
Cork football star Michael Cussen scored 1-2 as Sarsfields bridged a 51-year gap to claim the Cork SHC title at Bride Rovers' expense at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
Sarsfields...2-14
Bride Rovers.2-13
Making his first start of the season, the towering full forward made a major contribution to what was only the Glanmire club's third Sean Og Murphy Cup success. Team captain Kieran Murphy and Tadhg Og Murphy also played starring roles for the victors.
Underdogs Rovers, who were operating at junior 'B' level as recently as 1993, led at the break by 1-8 to 0-6 after Michael Collins goaled in the 13th minute after diverting Jerome O'Driscoll's tame shot to the net. From there to the break, they reeled off six points, three each from Sean Ryan and O'Driscoll, with Pat Ryan responding from frees for Sars.
O'Driscoll extended Rovers' lead to six points on the restart, only for the favourites to hit back with an unanswered 1-2 - the goal coming from Cussen in the 40th minute. Sars drew level after 49 minutes, but Rovers replied with points from Collins and Richie Cahill to take a two-point lead.
However, a Robert O'Driscoll goal put Sars in front and with two minutes left, they had moved into a 2-13 to 1-12 lead. Former Cork start Pat Ryan converted a huge free to make it 2-14 to 1-13 in injury-time, and it proved to be the match-winning score as Sean Ryan flicked to the net moments later to cut the four-point margin to the minimum.
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