Sars finish strong against Truagh-Clonlara to book Munster Senior Camogie semi-final spot

Orlaith Mullins, Sarsfields against St Catherines.in the SE Systems Senior Camogie Championship semi-final; St Catherines vs Sarsfields at Castle Road. Pic Larry Cummins

Munster Senior Camogie Club Championship Quarter-Final: Truagh-Clonlara 1-7 Sarsfields 1-11 

You cannot buy experience and Sarsfields most certainly showed the benefit of last year's Munster campaign when controlling proceedings in the last ten minutes and hitting three successive points from the 59th minute to book their spot in the Munster Semi-Final next weekend. 

The first half saw the home side start like an express train. Racing out of the blocks the newly crowned Clare Champions landed the first three points courtesy of Hannah Horgan, Róisín Begley and a converted Laura Foley free. Sarsfields looked in real trouble but a scintillating Orlaith Mullins score from out on the touchline ignited their charge. Full forward Kate Fenessy then landed three points in succession as the Cork side went into a narrow one point lead. 

The pace was frenetic as both teams put their respective bodies on the line in pursuit of glory. Star forward Aine O'Loughlin had been kept quiet by a disciplined Sarsfields rearguard but the Clare Senior player only needs one chance and it duly arrived in the 25th minute. O'Loughlin gathered possession just inside the 21-yard line and shrugged off several challenges before blasting low into the bottom corner. The response from the away side was emphatic to say the very least when just before the interval Claire Mullins latched onto a breaking ball and rifled to the net. At the break the Cork side led by the bare minimum 1-4 to 1-3.

A majestic audacious Áine O'Loughlin flick on a ball in mid air levelled the contest upon the resumption of play. Free takers Fenessy and Foley traded points and heading into the last ten minutes Championship minutes there was only a point separating the sides. Extra time looked a distinct possibility before Sarsfields landed those late scores and booked their date with Limerick Champions Newcastle West.

Scorers for Truagh-Clonlara: Aine O'Loughlin 1-2, Laura Foley 0-3 (3f), Róisín Begley 0-1.

Scorers for Sarsfields: Kate Fenessy 0-8 (5f), Claire Mullins 1-0, Orlaith Mullins, Lucy Allen, Katlyn Sheehan 0-1 each.

Truagh-Clonlara: S Cullen, S Ryan, R Powell, S Hogg, E Horgan, M Caulfield, L Egan, L Foley, N Powell, H Horgan, J Egan, E Begley, R Begley, A O'Loughlin, N Ryan. 

Subs: A Marren for H Horgan (25), L Hawes for E Begley (56).

Sarsfields: M Lynch, L Dunlea, E Murphy, O McAllen, N O'Callaghan, C Lynch, L Kelly, A Fitzgerald, E Twomey, O Mullins, L Allen, H Herlihy, C Mullins, K Fenessy, K Sheehan. 

Subs: R Roche for E Twomey (53), S Hurley for E Murphy (56) Referee: TP O'Sullivan (Tipperary).