Sars aiming to complete hurling and camogie double

The Riverstown club will take on back-to-back champions Seandún in the senior camogie final a week after Conor O’Sullivan raised the Seán Óg Murphy cup.

Sat, 21 Oct, 2023 - 08:07

Therese O’Callaghan

A possible double is on the cards for Sarsfields, as Sunday’s SE Systems Cork senior camogie championship decider sees the Riverstown club up against back-to-back champions Seandún.

Last weekend Conor O’Sullivan raised the Seán Óg Murphy cup.

Should the camogie team be triumphant, their fans will have to wait and see who will hold the trophy aloft as camogie manager Tadhg Óg Lynch rotates the captaincy in every game.

Sub goalkeeper Chloe Casey had the distinction in their semi-final win over St Catherine’s. There will be intrigue right up to the coin toss as to who will have the ultimate honour.

Niamh O’Callaghan thinks ‘it is a lovely idea.’ “It shows there is no individual, in the sense we are individuals but we are very much together.

He just calls someone on match day and says over you go for the toss. It means nobody is thinking about it either. ” A primary school teacher in Upper Glanmire, she missed last year’s clash between these two heavyweights.

“I didn’t play for personal reasons, I needed the break. I’d say this is my 10th year senior, I am 30 now. I came to watch the final, and that was very hard, worse than playing.

“I was apprehensive at the start of this year because most of my buddies were finished. There is a fierce young crowd here. I met with Tadhg - he has managed us down through the years - and it is great to be back and enjoying it.”

An All-Ireland senior medallist with Cork in 2018, Niamh recalls when Sars bridged a 30-year gap to claim their second title four years ago.

“That was unbelievable. Just the relief at the final whistle, especially against a brilliant side like Inniscarra, who we had great battles with.

“To bring the cup to Glanmire and bring it up to my grandmother (Betty O’Flynn). She is 97 now. That’s what club means, bringing back the cup and seeing all the people who have been there since day one. The happiness it brings.” To emulate that amazing sense of joy, is the ambition.

“That’s the goal. This is where you want to be, the days you want to be involved. We are under no illusions of the quality we are up against.”

The connections between the camogie and hurling squads include camogie coach John Barry, who is an uncle to Luke and Aidan Hackett, while selector Anthony Elliott is Luke’s father.

Rachael Roche is a sister of Cillian, and Deirdre McCarthy is Colm’s sister and a first cousin of Cathal (McCarthy). Lucy Allen is a cousin of the Hackett’s.

Lots of family links within the camogie panel too. Among them, four Mullins sisters. Twenty-five-year-old Meabh is a Primary teacher in Gaelscoil, Mhainistir na Corann and has battled her way back from a stress fracture in her tibia.

“We have one brother,” she explains. “I’m the oldest of the five girls. Clare, Áine and Orlaith are next. (Aoife is still minor).

It is incredibly special to be sharing it with them, we are so lucky. We all grew up breathing camogie. Our dad (former Cork captain Mark) would be very influential.

“We have unbelievable respect for Seandún. They have such a pick and experience, and the Cork background as well. We found that out last year, they are strong.

“After coming so close last year, we are very hungry. Hopefully we can come out the other end.”