Strong finish pushes Sars into Munster camogie final against Newcastle
Sarsfields' Orlaith Mullins is tackled by Newcastlewest's Karen O'Leary and Grace Lee during the AIB Munster Camogie semi-final at Castle Road. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
SARS are through to the AIB Munster club final by the minimum of margins after once again delivering a strong final 10 minutes in Castle Road.
They led by four on 60 minutes when Newcastle West substitute Meadhbh Ambrose hit the Sars net from close range. Much to the anguish of the visiting crowd referee Mike Ryan played no additional time and blew the whistle with the puck-out.
Sars lined out with one exception to their preliminary round victory a week ago, Rachel Roche the direct replacement for the injured Ava Fitzgerald.
They were marginally on top in the opening half, leading by three at the break, Newcastle relying heavily on the hard-working Rebecca Delee.
Orlaith Mullins got Sars’ first point and won the next free which Kate Fennessy converted to give Sars a two-point head start. But Delee, Newcastle’s top player hit the next three. Winning ball, bursting forward, and winning and converting her own free she followed it up with two from play.
No side was gaining any particular dominance in those early exchanges but as the half wore on Sars had the upper hand in a congested midfield.
Two from Sars from Lucy Allen and Hollie Herlihy before a goalmouth scramble was cleared, Sars winning a free as Newcastle panicked to clear which Kate Fennessy converted, Sars leading 0-5 to 0-3 on 17 minutes.
Delee was operating around the middle, sending in good deliveries but which were regularly returned by a dependable Sars defence where Ellen Murphy and Laura Dunlea stood out, Olivia McAllen at one point dispossessing Delee brilliantly as she raced towards goal. Ellie Woulfe got one back for Newcastle but Katlyn Sheehan and Fennessy (f) again to keep Sars' noses in front.
Hollie Herlihy had her shot for goal blocked on 22 minutes. Delee was too far out to create any significant threat but her ball-winning capabilities and excellent free taking kept Newcastle in the hunt. Two further points apiece before the short whistle as six Sars players registered on the scoreboard to three for Newcastle.
Newcastle got the perfect second-half start. With Roisín Ambrose and Geri Mai O’Kelly’s shots blocked by Sars, O’Kelly gathered possession for a second time and offloaded to the in-running and unmarked Karen O’Leary who rifled the net. Game level.
The spread of Newcastle’s outfield contributors increased, making them less reliant on Delee. Their attacks however were brilliantly thwarted by Ellen Murphy in particular and it was point for point for the next 20 minutes, Delee’s free-taking a highlight.
With the game level on 50 minutes, Sars, as they have a tendency to do, increased the tempo. Four points on the bounce from Fennessy (2) frees, Herlihy and Allen and Sars enjoyed a four-point lead coming up to full time.
Newcastle’s goal gave them fleeting hope of forcing extra time before Ryan’s whistle blew.
K Fennessy 0-7 (0-6 f, 0-1 45), H Herlihy 0-3, C Mullins 0-2, L Allen 0-2, O Mullins, K Sheehan 0-1 each.
R Delee 0-7 (0-5 f), M Ambrose 1-0, K O’Leary 1-0 each, R Ambrose, E Woulfe 0-1 each.
M Lynch; L Dunlea, E Murphy, L Kelly; C Lynch, O McAllen, N O’Callaghan; E Twomey, R Roche; O Mullins, H Herlihy, K Fennessy; L Allen, C Mullins, K Sheehan.
E Woods for K Fennessy (55).
A Corbett; L Walshe, Y Lee, R Mann; E Woulfe, K Ambrose, G Lee; L O’Brien, K O’Leary; K Foley, R Delee, R Ambrose; L Duggan, G M O’Kelly, R Browne.
M Ambrose for R Ambrose (42 inj), E Collins for R Browne (50).
Mike Ryan (Tipperary).
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