Three days on from their victory in the Cork Premier Senior Hurling final final against Midleton, the Sarsfields Hurling Club had their pitch hit badly by the floods caused by Storm Babet.
Parts of East Cork, including Glanmire where the Sarsfields pitch is located, have experienced severe floods due to Storm Babet. Sarsfields posted to social media on Wednesday explaining that they had sacrificed their pitch in hope of helping the community.
"We will be forever proud of our Senior Team on Sunday and today Sars Hurling Club experienced heroism in the form of our pitch committee & volunteers," the club said.
"Although we wanted to ensure we could limit the damage to the club house we made the decision to open the 2 large gates (behind the bar area and at the end of the pitch). As a result our main pitch essentially became a flood plain in order to relieve the flooding to the immediate Riverstown area, Orchard Manor & surrounding businesses.
"We won a county, lost a pitch but hopefully saved a part of the Glanmire community."
Cork hurling legend Tomás Mulcahy tweeted the following video of the flooding.
2 days ago , place was packed with supporters after their county final success - now how can this happen ?? pic.twitter.com/mBnoY1s202
— Tomas Mulcahy (@tomas_mulcahy) October 18, 2023
A status orange rain warning, which had been in effect for all of Cork and Kerry, ended on Wednesday afternoon.
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Sarsfields defeated Midleton 0-21 to 0-19 on Sunday to win the Seán Óg Murphy Cup for the first time since 2014. It was an emotional day for the club of Cork great Teddy McCarthy who died earlier this year.
I am deeply concerned at the substantial flooding occurring across East Cork and the damage it’s causing to homes, businesses and community properties as a consequence. I have requested the local authority to urgently call in the Civil Defence to provide emergency assistance.
— James O'Connor TD (@JamesOConnorTD) October 18, 2023
Players visited Teddy McCarthy's grave on Monday with the cup. There was also a homecoming held at their pitch that evening.
15 October 2023; Sarsfields' Daragh Long, left, and James Sweeney celebrate with teammates after the Cork County Premier Senior Club Hurling Championship final between Sarsfields and Midleton at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
James O'Connor, TD for Cork East, said on Wednesday: "I am deeply concerned at the substantial flooding occurring across East Cork and the damage it’s causing to homes, businesses and community properties as a consequence. I have requested the local authority to urgently call in the Civil Defence to provide emergency assistance."
The progression of the flooding in front of the house today with the river flowing out the gate, down the road and into Sarsfield’s pitch. #StormBabet #corkfloods pic.twitter.com/RCKHmkXEWM
— Pádraig Dooley (@podgedooley) October 18, 2023
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