Unity key for Sarsfields camogie club: We've a lot of young players and it took the pressure off

WITH Sarsfields GAA club closed after the storm, it fell to The Castle to host the celebrations for this year’s senior county champions on Sunday night. 

Niamh O’Callaghan was the player pushed forward to collect the cup in front of a large Sarsfields crowd at Castle Road. Throughout the year, they rotated their captain. 

It has worked a treat. What was another lovely touch before the game was that injured Amy McNamara was sent in for the toss.

Small club moments with big benefits. There was a unity all year in Sars that Seandún just couldn’t muster.

"It's just unbelievable, such a relief when the whistle went. Such a feeling, there’s no feeling like it," said an elated Niamh. 

It was a steady performance from Sars where they looked in control from the throw-in. 

"They had their patch in the second half, and we knew if we could just weather it and stick to our plan we’d come out on top, and we did and it’s just unbelievable." 

Referring to the double, following up on the senior hurlers' title a week earlier was an added incentive. 

A huge difference, the support from the lads today and the support all week around Sars based off the double it’s just unbelievable, it gave us a huge boost."

Referring to her captaincy role, she laughed: "The beauty of today, and the worst moment was when Tadgh Lynch called me to say I was going up for the cup. I was trying to think of what to say. 

"But you know what, I thoroughly enjoyed this year. There was no pressure on any of us. 

"We’ve a lot of young players and it took the pressure off them. Amy went in for the toss, we were all delighted for her, the team spirit that’s there with us, there’s no real individuals there we’re all working together. I accepted the cup, but it was all for the girls."

The game didn’t excite like the final of 2022, which provided 3-33, Sunday produced 1-20. But Sars left that dramatic final empty-handed, this they got their reward and their tactics spot on. 

With excellent composure they completely bottled out Seandún’s forward division, Molly Lynch didn’t have a save to make, as Sars controlled the game from start to finish.

Seandún named the same starting 15 as their semi-final. While they did make positional switches, the same issues arose. They didn’t have the pace in key areas. 

Orlaith Mullins and Lucy Allen won a ferocious amount of ball up the right wing in the first half. Emma Sharpe has pace and I felt she should have started. Maeve Coffey and Erin Curtin should also have been in, you go with your best 15. 

Management may have felt that the hour would be too much after Blackrock’s intermediate final on Saturday, but you get what you can out of players from the start. Sharpe came in and Niamh O’Leary picked up Allen and Sars hit just four points in the second half, with the wind.

But it was enough. 

HUNGER

Sars' work-rate surpassed Seandún’s. They were like cheetahs tracking back.

Laura Dunlea and O’Callaghan were very strong in a robust defence. There was no room inside but I felt Seandún’s forwards should have done better with the challenge. When Seandún had the gap down to three on 51 minutes they had a free to bring it to two. The free went wide and Sars hit the next two. Game over.

Sars wanted this one more.