Cork Camogie: Sarsfields hope to push on in Munster club series

SATURDAY: Munster Senior Camogie quarter-final: Truagh Clonlara v Sarsfields, Truagh Clonlara GAA, 1.30pm

SARSFIELDS manager Tadhg Óg Lynch would dearly love to atone for their Munster championship semi-final defeat 12 months ago when they take on Truagh Clonlara tomorrow. 

"We were very flat last year. The fact that we are going into this game as Cork champions should hopefully give us some impetus. 

I was at the Clare county final. I was impressed with how Truagh hung in there and won it in the end."

In their third final of asking Truagh Clonlara finally got their victory over Scariff Ogonnelloe, by a point.

Their coach Ryan Morris said it was an unbelievable feeling to get over the line.

"We lost in 2022 by three points, we lost the replay in 2021, both to Scarriff, so thanks be to God we got there this year."

Similarly, to Sarsfields Truagh’s men’s senior hurlers won the Clare senior hurling championship the week before the women’s final and the buzz in the parish was unbelievable with a double ‘Go Fund Me’ set up to support the teams, the girl’s fund bringing in €6,000.

Ryan isn’t too familiar with Sars but this much he does know.

"They’re very young, very fast, hard-working and don’t give up. They’re a different side to the one that narrowly lost to Scarriff last year. But we’ll just be focusing on ourselves."

Twelve months ago Sinead Hurley, Rachel Roche, Kate Fennessy, Laura Dunlea and Ava Fitzgerald were 16 years of age in that Munster championship defeat. They hadn’t been too long training with Sars senior panel either. 

A year older, a full season with their teammates and a county title behind them, is sure to drive a more accomplished performance from Sars.

The familiar Clare inter-county name of Áine O’Loughlin is in the Truagh side however three other intercounty squad members Eimear Kelly, Michelle Powell and Rebecca Foley, all received ACL injuries this year and missed Truagh’s campaign. 

To win the championship without such big club players was a testament to the desire in their squad. Ryan doesn’t believe it’ll be hard to pick his side up again to face Sars in the Munster championship.

"We had a chat with the girls last week and they were eager to go again, get back training and represent Clare. Inagh Kilnamona and Scarriff have represented the county well in Munster and we want to do the same."

He is expecting massive support.

"This is huge for the parish. We have great facilities but because we’re down in the corner we don’t get many games. 

"If the weather holds up, it’s a Saturday afternoon, we’d expect a huge crowd from the parish and from Clare itself."

Lynch is under no illusions as to the atmosphere Sars will face.

I’m sure it will be hostile for us. They’ve won their first county title and they’ve got a home Munster championship game."

It’s important that Sarsfield’s supporters travel in big numbers tomorrow to cheer on their team.