Sarsfields' Tadhg Óg Lynch thrilled to have won the county for the club and parish

SARSFIELDS manager Tadhg Óg Lynch was calm and cool as he savoured his side's celebrations, but the smile said it all.

They had just won the county, beating the defending champions Seandún and atoning for last season's loss.

“We are thrilled to have got over the line and to be crowned champions," Lynch said. "We worked really head this year and today the girls have got their reward.” 

When the teams met in 2022, Sars allowed their opponents to take a seven-point lead, but this time out were focused on the job from the throw-in.

“Last year we gave them a great start and we were playing catch up, so we knew this time out we needed to start well and not allow them dictate the game.

"They have excellent players, excellent inter-county players, such as Katriona Mackey, Amy O’Connor and Lauren Homan, all players who can turn a game if you give them an opportunity, so we knew we had to stop the threat they posed and our defence did that.

"They were magnificent all throughout the 60 minutes. 

"We were very conscious of our defence holding their shape and really working hard and cut down that space.

"Lucy Kelly did a great marking job on Amy O’Connor. She has come back from Dubai and has worked really, really hard, both when she was away and when she came back.  I am delighted for her." 

Lynch acknowledged that losing last year’s decider was a huge motivating factor.

We worked really hard this year, we were hurting after losing out last year. We went back to the drawing board and looked at it and the girls bought into it.

"We have had about 100 sessions and we had a few players coming back who we didn’t have last year.

"Lucy Kelly was away, Olivia McAllen was out with a cruciate injury, and Niamh O’Callaghan took a year out, so we knew they would bring great quality and competition, and they pushed things on for this panel."

LIFT

After a difficult week in Riverstown and Glanmire, the importance of the club was at the fore with the camogie team following up on the hurlers' success.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to be in a county final and to win today was great for the club with the hurlers having won last week, it’s great for the club and the area. 

I said it to the girls that we have seen that there are more important things than sport and this week we in Sarsfields and the community have experienced a lot of hardship.

"People’s homes and businesses have been wrecked as well as our facilities, but we are a resilient people and a great community and we will rebuild, and hopefully today's victory will bring a bit of joy to the area.” 

He also acknowledged the huge volume of support the club received in the wake of their club pitch being damaged by the flooding.

"Thanks to Erin’s Own who gave us use of their pitch to train this week and to all of the other clubs who contacted us, it certainly lifted our spirits and a huge thanks to them all."