Sarsfields fall short in bid to reach All-Ireland camogie final
Sarsfields Galway’s Caoimhe Kelly and Lucy Kelly of Sarsfields Cork in action at Mallow. Picture: INPHO/Ryan Byrne
THE dream ended for Sarsfields of Cork as Sarsfields Galway made it to their third AIB All-Ireland final in a row in Mallow on Saturday afternoon.
Leading by a point at half time, 0-7 to 0-6, the champions showed their class and experience to outscore Sarsfields Cork 2-3 to 1-0 in the second period, Sars' home goal coming from the stick of substitute Kate Fennessy.
Sars were dealt a blow before the game with Fennessy ruled out through illness, Lucy Allen taking over the free-taking duties.
The Galway side's opening four minutes indicated a tough hour for the Cork champs with three players hitting the mark from play, Klara Donohue, Clodagh McGrath, and Siobhan McGrath with a 45 from Allen the response. An Allen free put one between them but with Clodagh McGrath doing well in the middle of the park Galway were setting up plenty of attacks and hit the next two from McGrath (f) and Rachel Murray.
Sars' defence began getting to grips with their opponents, Lucy Kelly picking up Siobhán McGrath and reading the breaking ball better. A super score by Hollie Herlihy as they were gaining traction and only for great defending by Réitseal Kelly, could have got in closer to goal.
A goal chance for Sars Galway on 20 minutes involved Siobhán and Orlaith McGrath but the latter’s final pass was wayward and Caoimhe Kelly hit wide.
The hosts won the final 10 minutes of that first half, a great score from Orlaith Mullins, and two Allen placed balls to one from Kelly, left the minimum between the sides and led to a pep in Sars' step as they raced to the dressing room.
The Galway outfit went on the early attack again and had a goal chance struck over by Klara Donoghue. Another lovely point from Kelly before an absolutely brilliant individual goal by Siobhán McGrath gave them a six-point lead. Racing in on goal with defenders closing in McGrath hit the back of the net with force.
It would only last two minutes before sub Fennessy received from Claire Mullins to finish past keeper Laura Glynn to reduce the gap to three again.
End to end action followed but Maria Cooney, Clodagh McGrath, Tara Kenny, Klara Donohue, and Siobhán McGrath excelled for the winners. Lucy Kelly, Ava Fitzgerald and Sars' forward division gave it everything but the opposition half-back line was excellent.
They pushed for something from the game with a number of late frees but it wasn’t to be.
K Donoghue, S McGrath 1-2 (0-1 f) each, S Corcoran, C Kelly 0-2 each, Clodagh McGrath, R Murray 0-1 each.
L Allen 0-4 (0-2 f, 0-2 45), K Fennessy 1-0, H Herlihy, O Mullins 0-1 each.
L Glynn; R Kelly, L Ward, K Gallagher; T Kenny, M Cooney, J Daly; C McGrath, S Spellman; K Donohue, O McGrath, R Murray; S Corcoran, S McGrath, C Kelly.
C Kenny for C Kelly (55), Ciara McGrath for L Ward (inj 59), C Cahalan for R Murray (61).
M Lynch; L Dunlea, E Murphy, L Kelly; N O’Callaghan, C Lynch, O McAllen; A Fitzgerald, E Twomey; O Mullins, L Allen, H Herlihy; C Mullins, E Woods, K Sheehan.
R Roche for L Kelly (blood sub-21-24m), K Fennessy for E Woods (36), R Roche for C Lynch (45), M McCarthy for K Sheehan (51), C O’Donovan for H Herlihy (54).
Ray Kelly (Kildare).
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