Linda Mellerick: Seandún will need to improve to beat Sars again

AS we expected, we had two highly competitive senior camogie semi-finals last Sunday with Seandún and Sarsfields progressing to what will be the second final meeting in as many years.

Cloughduv led from the first minute to the 53rd and had their strongest lead at that stage with four points but failed to find the mark from there, with Seandún hitting 1-5.

It was almost point for point in the opening half, but Cloughduv were that bit more economical with possession; hitting periodic two points in a row, with Seandún hitting five from play in fits and starts.

A big problem for Seandún in the opening 25 minutes was Amy Sheppard at right corner-forward. She won frees with almost every touch which Lisa Lynch converted.

Niamh O’Leary was eventually switched over and Sheppard’s dominance in that regard stopped, even if she did pick off two points before the final whistle, as good players will score. A Cork minor again in 2024, Sheppard has a bright future.

It was noted how slow Seandún’s management were to make the switch, indecisiveness they won’t get away with in the final.

Seandún, you could say, got out of jail, but on the flip side you have to admire their finish. They were struggling up front. I wrote in my match report that I felt they could have handled that better, but to give them credit they persisted and the goal that you just couldn’t see coming, despite the pressure that they were applying, duly arrived.

Cloughduv’s Ciara O’Leary had just pulled off a great save, then Cloughduv cleared their line again and you just felt at that stage that things were going their way.

Erin Curtin should have taken her point on 60 minutes as that was all Seandún needed to draw level, and with the position she was in, it would have been the right option at the time.

As it turned out, the attack brought about the goal and Blackrock’s Meave Coffey took it brilliantly. That’s only the second goal that Cloughduv have conceded this year; both coming in the closing minutes of both games.

Even though Katina Mackey and Amy O’Connor were well marshalled, I thought Mackey worked her socks off, finishing with two points, while O’Connor had 0-3 from play.

But Seandún needed to work that scenario better than they did. It was far too bunched inside, and as the match report stated, they lost too much ball in their half-forward line, thereby not giving the amount or correct ball in.

Cloughduv have won everyone’s admiration this year and you had to feel sorry for them at the final whistle. But they won’t want admiration, they’ll feel they let this one get away and they’ll be back with a vengeance in 2024.

FLYING

St Catherine’s slow start was a killer blow. Sars just flew out of the traps and Catherine’s were never going to get back when 2-6 to 0-2 down after 19 minutes.

It was going to take a complete Sars collapse for that to happen. And it very nearly did, and while Sars didn’t collapse, they struggled big time with Catherine’s runs down the middle, led by Laura Hayes, and to concede four goals, three in the second half, is an area they’ll be addressing heading into the final.

Granted, two of the goals were fortuitous. Niamh O’Regan struck two top-class goals though to give her credit. Sarsfield’s won two penalties, with just two points the return, one from a 45.

They don’t seem to have identified someone who confidently steps up and believes this one is going in. It’s something both Sars and Seandún need to close off before tomorrow week.

The disciplined distance from the 20m line has led to a decline in scored penalties at both club and county level. You need more power now than in the past as well as positioning.

It’s not so hard to believe that St Catherine's got the gap down to one on 54 minutes as they’ve shown that spirit all year. I couldn’t see Sars losing the game though. Sars were able to pick off their scores with greater ease and wrapped up with three to win by four.