Back-to-back defending champions Sarsfields of Galway reach All-Ireland camogie final
SARS DERBY: Sarsfields Galway’s Siobhan McGrath and Niamh O’Callaghan of Sarsfields Cork. Pic Credit ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Back-to-back defending champions Sarsfields of Galway moved on to yet another AIB All-Ireland club senior camogie championship final after battling past Sarsfields of Cork in Mallow on Saturday evening.
Seeking three-in-a-row All-Ireland titles against Dicksboro of Kilkenny on December 17 next, they are clearly hungry for more, and it was their superb second-half showing that ensured their progress.
A brace of goals from Siobhán McGrath and Klara Donohue at the three-quarter mark were vital to the outcome.
After a mere 30 seconds, player-of-the-match Klara Donohue and Clodagh McGrath nudged Sarsfields of Galway into an early advantage. Those opening stages suggested the Connacht side were up for the fight.
Lucy Allen, who took over the free-taking from the absent Kate Fennessy due to illness (she was introduced in the second-half), put her side on the scoreboard in the third minute from a ’45.
But, the Galway team’s desire shone through once more, and by the quarter hour mark they were 0-5 to 0-2 ahead.
A worry for them though was a leg injury picked up by their captain and full-back Laura Ward, who appeared to run it off over the hour.
Sarsfields of Cork worked their way back into the game, and with five minutes to go to half-time, fine individual scores from Hollie herlihy, Lucy Allen (free) and Orlaith Mullins left it a one-point match, 0-6 to 0-5.
Defiant defending it must be said too from the Cork club’s back line, denying Shannon Corcoran a chance at goal.
Both sides were being penalised by referee Ray Kelly for illegal hand-passes, the Kildare whistler was very strict on this rule.
In the four minutes of added time, Caoimhe Kelly from an extremely tight angle, and Lucy Allen from a ’45, exchanged white flags to leave the bare minimum between them after a closely fought opening half, 0-7 to 0-6 in favour of Sarsfields of Galway.
Klara Donoghue restarted the second-half just like she did the first, and then Siobhán McGrath, who had a great duel with Lucy Kelly, her low drive was pushed out for a ’45 by Molly Lynch - but they got no return from the placed ball.
The atmosphere was fiercely intense, as Siobhán McGrath set up Caoimhe Kelly to put her team two in front in the 40th minute.
Next came a moment of magic from Siobhán McGrath, her talent shining through as she raced through the opposing defence to fire an unstoppable shot to the top corner of the net.
No sooner had the celebrations died down when substitute Kate Fennessy replied for the Cork champions, 1-6 to 1-9.
Top-level defending denied an abundance of scores at either end, but when the next flag was raised, it was an important score from Klara O’Donoghue in the 52md minute, who accepted Rachel Murray’s pass to rattle the Cork net.
At this juncture, the Sarsfields of Galway defending was hugely effective, Cork’s Sarsfields had to go for goal, but each time they were repelled.
A job well done by the Galway champions.
K Donohue and S McGrath (0-1 free) (1-2 each), S Corcoran and C Kelly (0-2 each), Clodagh McGrath and R Murray (0-1 each).
L Allen (0-4, 0-2 frees, 0-2 ‘45s), K Fennessy (1-0), O Mullins and H Herlihy (0-1 each).
L Glynn; R Kelly, L Ward (Capt), K Gallagher; T Kenny, M Cooney, J Daly; Clodagh McGrath, S Spellman; K Donoghue, O McGrath, R Murray; S Corcoran, S McGrath, C Kelly.
C Kenny for C Kelly (55), Ciara McGrath for L Ward (59), C Cahalan for R Murray (60).
M Lynch; L Dunlea, L Kelly, E Murphy; C Lynch, O McAllen, N O’Callaghan; A Fitzgerald, E Twomey; O Mullins, H Herlihy, L Allen; C Mullins, E Woods, K Sheehan.
R Roche for L Kelly (bs 20-23), K Fennessy for E Woods (36), R Roche for C Lynch (45), M McCarthy for K Sheehan (51), C O’Donovan for H Herlihy (54).
Ray Kelly (Kildare).
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