Linda Mellerick previews Sars v Newcastle West: Cork camogie champions eager to drive on

SARSFIELDS and Newcastle West face each other tomorrow in the Munster club semi-final in Castle Road at 1.30pm. 

Sars’ preliminary win over Truagh Clonlara last Saturday will stand them in good stead. That was a tough hour in Clonlara’s domain where Sars were fortunate to be a point ahead at halftime yet could have won the game by more than their four points based on a dominant second half, but where scores were difficult to get.

Tadhg Óg Lynch, Sars manager, knew they were in for a battle and feels the game will stand to them, this being Newcastle’s first Munster outing since their county win over Killeedy.

"I expected a very tough game. It was Truagh’s first time in Munster and with a strong home crowd. 

"I felt in the first half they were on top slightly. When their goal went in, they went two up and it could have been four or five as they had some wides. 

"That could have made the second half difficult for us as they could have battened down. Clare Mullins' goal was key for us just before half time.

"In the second half, I thought we got to grips at midfield and our backs were on top. We could have got distance between us, Clare’s shot coming off the crossbar but look it was just great preparation for us ahead of Sunday. 

"The time of year it is, conditions don’t allow the game to move freely. Truagh showed us tremendous hospitality and were very welcoming to us."

Sars will start without midfielder Ava Fitzgerald, who picked up an ear injury and had it operated on. 

She won’t be available for a couple of weeks. But Sars have options. Rachel Roche did well when coming in last weekend and Sars also have options to move defenders to midfield.

DUAL DILEMMA

Should Sars win tomorrow their Munster final is November 26. Glanmire ladies footballers play their All-Ireland intermediate quarter-final away to London on the 25 so that’s a bit of a nightmare scenario. 

Sars have three dual players that start on both teams, Fitzgerald, Evie Twomey and Ellen Murphy with also a few duals on the bench.  But it’s not something Tadhg is focusing on right now. 

I’ll worry about that on Sunday evening if we win. Newcastle are very energetic, there’s lots of running and movement from them. Sunday is our only focus for now."

Newcastle West bowed out of the Munster championship last year at the semi-final and will be hopeful that their travel to Castle Road gives them a more favourable return. They defeated Killeady in their county final 0-16 to 1-5. 

Roisín Ambrose and Rebecca Delee are two familiar Limerick names, and it was the Delee-Ambrose show for the opening half as they combined for seven points. 

Making use of the space along with brilliant supply from a midfield partnership of Karen O’Leary and Deborah Murphy, enabled Ambrose and Delee to run riot. Midfield is a key area for Newcastle and with Ava out it’s important that Sars adequately replace that gap.

Sars won the toss in Clonlara for home advantage. The familiarity of Castle Road and Newcastle having to travel tilts the game in Sars' direction and Lynch is hopeful of strong support.

While it’s a prolonged season for Sarsfields, the rest hang up their boots and reflect on the season gone. Was it a good championship? 

There were some heavy defeats in the group rounds. 

When that happens there’s nearly always a cry for Senior B to be reinstated. But is that the answer? Does it need an answer? 

Look at the Rugby World Cup and some of their pool games, horrendous defeats. 

Things levelled out as you’d expect at the quarter-finals. After the first round, I had in my mind the top three being St Finbarr's, Sarsfields and Seandún, in that order. The latter exited at the quarter-final leaving second and third to play it out. 

In most championships, the top teams are there towards the end. What could have thrown the final pairing out the window was Cloughduv, and how unlucky they were not to get there. 

They certainly lit up 2023.