St Finbarr's dethrone Sarsfields to win first Cork camogie title since 2006
Aisling Shannon, St Finbarr's, breaking between Sarsfields' Lucy Allen and Orlaith Mullins during the SE Systems Cork Senior Camogie Championship final at Castle Road. Picture: Dan Linehan
The celebrations will go on for some time in Togher as St Finbarr’s won the SE Systems Cork Senior Camogie championship title at Castle Road.
The Blues beat the defending champions to win the title for the first time since 2006, and only their second win in this competition and the scenes at the end showed just how much it meant to them.
There were little or nothing between the sides for most of the game, until the 52nd minute. When a goal was needed to swing it in favour of one side or the other up stepped Orlaith Cahalane to seal the win for the Barrs.
She drove past several defenders and with the referee playing advantage found the back of the net and effectively kill off Sars' challenge.
The winners had outstanding displays all over the pitch, with Sorcha McCartan also a constant threat up front for the Barrs.
But defensively they were simply outstanding with Meabh Cahalane and Aisling Egan leading by example all through. Aoife O’Neill was another to not put a foot wrong all through and it was no surprise to see her named Player of the Game afterward.
And when you can call on a star of camogie for many years in Gemma O’Connor to come on after 45 minutes to bring an air of calm to the side it was the perfect day for the Barrs.
They took the lead in the first minute when Keeva McCarthy pointed with Cahalane adding a second as they made full use of the strong wind in their favour.
A free from Kate Fennessy got Sars off the mark and with six minutes gone they were back on level terms when Lucy Allen scored.
Two minutes later and the Barrs were awarded a penalty when the referee, John Horgan, indicated there was holding off the ball.
But Sorcha McCartan's effort was well saved by Molly Lynch, one of a number of stops she made, to see it stay 0-2 each.
Cahalane put the Barrs back in front, with Fennessy replying at the other end as there was nothing between the sides at this stage.
Sars then enjoyed their best spell of the half with Fennessy putting them in front for the first time. Orlaith Mullins increased their lead, before her sister Clare, pointed to make it 0-6 to 0-3 after 20 minutes.
Credit to the Barrs they responded in style with McCartan reducing the deficit, before Kate Wall made it a one-point game. McCartan was on target again to see them level for the fourth time, 0-6 each after 24 minutes.
Ava Fitzgerald put Sars back in front but points from Hannah O’Leary, Cahalane and Nicole Olden saw the Barrs lead by 0-9 to 0-8 at half-time.
Fitzgerald levelled it but two from McCartan put the Barrs back in front, a lead they never lost again. Fennessy hit two frees for Sars, with Cahalane pointing in between and with 50 minutes played it was 0-13 to 0-11.
Then Cahalane scored the crucial score to put the Barrs five points up and late scores from McCartan and Ella Wigginton Barrett sealed the win as the celebrations began and no doubt will do so for some time.
O Cahalane 1-4 (0-2 f), S McCartan 0-5 (0-1 f), K McCarthy 0-3, K Wall, H O’Leary, N Olden, E Wigginton Barrett 0-1 each.
K Fennessy 0-7 (0-5 f), A Fitzgerald 0-2, L Allen, O Mullins, C Mullins 0-1 each.
C Hurley; S Punch, A Egan, A O’Neill; A Shannon, M Cahalane, C Golden; E Olden, H O’Leary; N Olden, K Wall, E Wigginton Barrett; S McCartan, O Cahalane, K McCarthy.
G O’Connor for E Olden (45).
M Lynch; T Elliott, M Mullins, N O’Callaghan; O McAllen, L Kelly, L Dunlea; A Fitzgerald, C Lynch; L Allen, O Mullina, E Twomey; C Mullins, H Herlihy, K Fennessy.
M McCarthy for C Lynch (h-t), C O’Donovan for M Mullins (45), A Mullins for M McCarthy, E Woods for K Fennessy (both 59).
John Horgan (Gleann na Laoi).
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