Six goals as Sarsfields edge out St Catherine's to reach camogie final

Sarsfields 2-15 St Catherine’s 4-5 

SARSFIELDS booked their place in the SE Systems Senior Camogie final against champions Seandún in a repeat of last year’s final. 

At the interval, Sars led by double scores, 2-8 to 1-4, but in typical St Catherine’s fashion they battled back and with five minutes remaining just a point separated the sides after two quick Catherine's goals.

The opening half belonged to the favourites as they got the game off to a great start, up by six points inside five minutes. They were fast and lively and their movement off the ball caused problems for an over-worked St Catherine's defence. Kate Fennessy and Kaitlin Sheehan had points before Lucy Allen finished to the net after four minutes.

Orla Cotter had Catherine's and with the sides swapping scores Sarsfields remained in control. At the end of the opening quarter, Claire Mullins fired home the second goal but they were denied a third on the puck-out with Yvonne O'Neill saving a Kate Fennessy penalty. 

With Laura Hayes and Aoife Hurley beginning to get a grip the Saints grew into the game points from Finola Neville and Hurley kept the scoreboard ticking over. When Cotter's long-range free slipped past Sars keeper Molly Lynch, the deficit was down to five.

Sars rallied with Claire Mullins and Kate Fennessy pointing to lead by seven at the halftime whistle.

Niamh O’Regan fired over an early Catherine’s point but Sars replied with two from Orlaith Mullins and one from Claire Mullins. With Cotter dropping back and winning a lot of ball, the underdogs were able to push up and when Niamh O'Regan brilliantly caught a long delivery on the edge of the square she finished to the net. 

Catherine’s had the ball in the net again on the puck-out but ref Diarmuid Kirwin adjudged it a square ball. Relief for Sarsfields and after a Woods free, seven points separated the sides with nine minutes left.

St Catherine’s were not going to be beaten easily. Hayes drove them on and two goals in three minutes had supporters on the edge of their seats after O'Regan and Hayes netted. 

Three Sars points from Woods, Allen and Kaitlin Sheehan were just about enough to see their sides over the line but only after that massive fightback from a spirited St Catherine’s.

Scorers for Sarsfields: C Mullins, L Allen 1-1 each, K Sheehan 0-3, H Herlihy 0-3 each, K Fennessy 0-3 (0-2 f, 0-1 45), O Mullins 0-2, E Woods 0-2 f.

St Catherine’s: N O'Regan 2-1, O Cotter 1-1 (1-0 f), L Hayes 1-0, F Neville 0-2 f, A Hurley 0-1.

SARSFIELDS: M Lynch; L Dunlea, E Murphy, L Kelly; C Lynch, O Mc Allen, N O’ Callaghan; A Fitzgerald, E Twomey; H Herlihy, K Fennessy, O Mullins; L Allen, C Mullins, K Sheehan.

Subs: SM Clancy for M Murphy (19), F Sheehan for T Condon (24). 

St CATHERINE'S: Y O'Neill; C Dunning, C Motherway, M Murphy; R O'Callaghan, L Hayes (c) C Dreaper; A Hurley, E O'Brien; A O’ Regan, O Cotter, T Condon; N O'Regan, F Neville, A Mulkerins.

Referee: Diarmuid Kirwin (Éire Óg).