Super Sarsfields camogie team capture the Munster title after epic battle with Drom and Inch

Sarsfields 2-11 

Drom and Inch 2-7 

SARSFIELDS are Munster senior camogie champions after dethroning holders Drom and Inch in an enthralling battle in Clonoulty Rossmore on Sunday. 

After what was a brilliant team performance, they now meet Sarsfields of Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final in Mallow next Saturday.

Leading by six at half time the intensity of the game didn’t let up in the second half. 

With underfoot conditions getting increasingly heavy, Sars showed no signs of tiring as they drove at the 2022 champions.

It was as frantic a first half paced as you’ll get. Sars tore into early attacks with Evie Twomey and Ava Fitzgerald getting good deliveries in. 

Two points from Orlaith Mullins and Kate Fennessy got Sars off the mark and what was notable from the outset was the fantastic work rate of Sars forward division. 

Suddenly, against the run of play, Drom and Inch’s Siobhan McGrath’s long delivery dipped into the net and three further points inside two minutes had Drom leading 1-3 to 0-2 on twelve minutes. 

But Sars responded. Kathlyn Sheehan to Claire Mullins, a good cross to Lucy Allen who tucked it neatly away. 

Hollie Herlihy and Orlaith Mullins points had Sars fleetingly back in front before Miriam Campion levelled it again.

Drom were trying to create opportunities for Eimear McGrath and Miriam Campion inside but incredible defending by Ellen Murphy, assisted by Laura Dunlea, Lucy Kelly, and their half back line denied them time and again.

Another brilliantly executed goal involving the Mullins sisters and Allen saw Allen hit the net for the second time. 

Sars in the lead again on twenty-four minutes, a lead they never relinquished. 

Fennessy and Eimear McGrath swapped frees before Claire Mullins and Fennessy again (2) saw Sars take a strong six-point lead into the dressing room; 2-8 to 1-5.

An enthralling second half began. 

Miriam Campion netted after three minutes to give Drom a spark. But Sars’ work rate all over the field was not going to see them denied.

With Ava Fitzgerald continuing to excel and Hollie Herlihy, Lucy Allen and Orlaith Mullins dropping back and winning strong ball out around the middle, Fennessy and Herlihy hit two from play.

Eimear McGrath from a free.

The battle was electric, end to end, Murphy denying Michelle Woodlock with a brilliant flick out for a ’45 on forty-nine minutes, which McGrath converted, 2-10 to 2-7.

Drom desperately sought an equalising goal.

Orlaith Mullins gave Sars another breather on fifty-two for them to lead by four and for the next twelve minutes of play that’s how it stayed. 

In additional time Molly Lynch advanced to block a ground stroke by Deirdre Dunne.

There need have been no concern about the physicality of Sars versus Drom. They more than matched them in that regard.

Manager Tadgh Og Lynch was ecstatic after the final whistle. 

"This was an unbelievable game. It was really intense. 

"Everything was on the line, throwing their bodies into tackles, it was super. I’m so proud of them."

Sars work rate was incredible.

"It was incredible and something we worked on. We showed flashes of it during the year, and it was trying to pull a performance together for the sixty minutes. 

"We did it in the first half and we begged them I suppose to drive it on in the second half, take the game to them rather than a reaction and that’s what they did."

Scorers for Sarsfields: L Allen 2-0, K Fennessy 0-5 (0-2f, 0-1 45), O Mullins 0-3, H Herlihy 0-2, C Mullins 0-1.

Drom and Inch: E McGrath 0-4 (0-3f, 0-1 45) M Campion 1-1, S McGrath 1-0, K O’Dwyer, A McGrath 0-1 each.

SARSFIELDS: M Lynch; L Dunlea, E Murphy, L Kelly; C Lynch, O Allen, N O’Callaghan; A Fitzgerald, E Twomey; O Mullins, H Herlihy, L Allen; C Mullins, K Fennessy, K Sheehan.

Subs: R Roche for K Sheehan (60).

DROM AND INCH: K Kenneally; M Connolly, C Brennan, E Cahill; N Long, M Eviston, A Eviston; C Shanahan, A McGrath; S McGrath, M Burke, N Treacy; K O’Dwyer, E McGrath, M Campion.

Subs: J Ryan for C Shanahan (h-t), M Woodlock for S McGrath (41), D Dunne for K O’Dwyer (44), M Ryan for E Cahill (50), N Butler for M Burke (blood sub-52-56m) 

Referee: Aaron Hogg (Clare).