Harnedy's nine-point haul helps St Ita's home in

Seamus Harnedy hit the target nine times as St Ita’s advanced to the semi-final stage of the East Cork junior ‘A’ hurling championship.

Beaten semi-finalists last year, the Gortroe men defeated 14-man Sarsfields by 1-28 to 1-16 in Glenville on Friday night to secure passage to the last four again and remain on course for their second-ever JAHC crown.

St Ita’s led by 0-17 to 1-10 at the break, Odhran McCarthy with the Sarsfields goal, but Sars suffered a major setback on the stroke of half time when Callum Austin was sent off.

Although the gap came down to one, St Ita’s gradually got on top and top-scorer Daniel Hickey (1-7) polished the scoring off with a late goal. Harnedy, the first man from the club to represent Cork at senior level, was a thorn in the Sarsfields side throughout.