Cork Camogie: Sars get the better of Inniscarra at a wind-swept and wet Castle Road

Sarsfields 1-10 Inniscarra 0-7 

SARSFIELD advanced to the semi-final of the SE Systems Senior Camogie Championship in extremely testing weather conditions in Castle Road on Sunday. 

While the pitch was in great condition, albeit slippery, the rain teeming down, and the often ferocious wind made it difficult for both sides.

Sars with the early wind advantage managed just a seven-point lead at the break, Inniscarra yet to score. 

The swirling wind wasn’t as big an advantage as you might expect but certainly, it favoured the Glanmire side. 

Inniscarra’s work rate in that opening period hugely contributed to Sarsfields’ just four points from play as they bottled them when in possession, despite Sars letting the ball in fast.

With midfielders Katie O’Mahony and Aoife Kavanagh tracking quickly back and full forward Caitlin Looney playing deep around Inniscarra’s own ’45 and with Aileen Sheehan intermittently doing the same, goal chances didn’t come for Sars. 

It wasn’t a surprise that Inniscarra finished the half with no score, but they had a couple of chances, hitting two wides. 

Two from Lucy Allen, one from Orlaith Mullins and four from Kate Fennessy, one from play, gave Sars their advantage at the break.

Inniscarra hit the opening two points of the second half inside six minutes but from there it was the middle third that became very busy with Inniscarra not gaining that much advantage up front. 

A Cliona Lynch 45 and Orlaith Mullins cancelled out Inniscarra’s scores by the three-quarter mark and with the clock ticking down Inniscarra needed more. 

Niamh O’Callaghan broke down a couple of Inniscarra attacks before Aileen Sheehan drove one over. 

But on twenty minutes, a great Orlaith Mullins run up the right wing went to Clare Mullins who passed low to Fennessy, and the ball was in the net. 

It was now a mountain for Inniscarra to climb. Inniscarra pushed forward, won frees, four converted by Ellen Crowley and Aine O’Regan (3) before Cliona Lynch had the final say as the wind and heavy rain continued.

Scorers for Sarsfields: K Fennessy 1-4 (0-3 f), L Allen, O Mullins, C Lynch (45) 0-2 each.

Inniscarra: A O’Regan 0-3 f, E Crowley 0-2 f, K O’Mahony, A Sheehan 0-1 each.

SARSFIELDS: M Lynch; L Dunlea, E Murphy, O McAllen; S Hurley, L Kelly, N O’Callaghan; A Fitzgerald, C Lynch; E Twomey, O Mullins, K Fennessy; L Allen, E Woods, C Mullins.

Subs: K Sheehan for E Woods (h-t), H Herlihy for E Twomey (52).

INNISCARRA: C Buckley; G O’Leary, C Ring, A O’Leary; A O’Regan, E Looney, I Golden; K O’Mahony, A Kavanagh; E O’Reilly, A Sheehan, R Murphy; E Crowley, C Looney, A Lotty.

Subs: B Holland and L Desmond for C Looney and A Lotty (46), R Quigley for E O’Reilly (53), S O’Callaghan for G O’Leary (56).

Referee: Andrew Larkin (Ballygarvan).