Linda Mellerick on camogie: Sars underage talent gelling into powerful senior squad

SARSFIELDS winning their third senior championship title last Sunday gave a gee up to the community after their clubhouse, local houses and businesses suffered horrendous flooding a few days previously.

Those in attendance in Castle Road were able to put that to the back of their minds for a couple of hours and watch their club win senior honours for the second time in seven days. 

Not since 1967 has a club won the senior championship double. In fact, Sarsfields did the ‘double-double’ as both the women and men won their respective league titles earlier this year.

That consistency deserves the accolades it receives. Hurt, desire and incentive... the three attributes that Sars had in abundance. I caught up briefly with Seandún on Sunday evening. I had popped into their celebrations for the past two years, so I felt it was only right to do the same after they lost.

Management and players were magnanimous in defeat, loud in their praise of Sarsfields, acknowledging their fine team and the fact that they themselves just didn’t hit the heights all year of the past two seasons.

It’s hard for divisional sides. When you hear Tadgh Óg Lynch speak of their 100 training sessions, the spirit that develops within a club from that just can’t be matched in a divisional side that met as a full squad a handful of times.

To win the last two titles was a credit to both management and players and even if this year their performances were flat in comparison, they can be proud of their back-to-back titles with many friendships made over the past four seasons.

The management of Trevor Coleman, Trevor Allen, Catherine Allen, Liz O’Mahony, Jason Long, David Lockyer, Michael Hickey and Padraig Treacy are all involved with their own clubs and to give their time to the divisional side is to be commended.

It was Sars' best performance all season in that their discipline, focus and tenacity was there for the full 60-plus minutes.

No slow start and consistent hard work throughout. It wasn’t a classic, often classics leave you heartbroken.

This was about digging out the title.

MOVING

Speaking of discipline, the amount of yellow cards given on the day was wholly uncalled for. There’s no need to give a lecture with every free. Keep the game moving.

It was a superb defensive display from minor Laura Dunlea, just 17 years of age, Lucy Kelly who did a great job on Amy O’Connor, Ellen Murphy, Cliona Lynch, Olivia McAllen, and Niamh O’Callaghan, but it doesn’t feel right directing all the credit there as the backtracking of Sars forwards and midfielders when Seandún went on attack was exemplary.

Sars were content to concede midfield space while they tracked back to prevent goals. 

Sinead Mills won good ball there, won a free and hit a point and Sars were ok with that. Kate Fennessy showed immense composure with excellent free-taking, another Cork minor alongside Ava Fitzgerald and Rachel Roche.

Sars had 11 minors on Sunday’s panel. Hugely impressive, the winning Féile teams of 2016 to 2018 coming to the fore.

Eight white flags from play was all Seandún could raise. Not a hint of a goal. It was similar to their semi-final where they scored just 10 from play until Maeve Coffey came on and hit 1-1 in the closing minutes.

Clare Mullins received the player-of-the-match award. That was difficult to select as so many of Sars' players did well on the day. 

Sars head to the Munster campaign against Scariff Ogonnelloe of Clare on November 11. The break of three weeks is welcomed, I’m sure. They were beaten by Scarriff in the Munster semi-final last year, but this year is different. 

It’s hard to build yourself up for a Munster campaign after losing inside your own county. I’d say you feel like you almost don’t deserve to be there. Well, Sars certainly deserve to be there this year and we wish them well as they represent Cork.