Cork Camogie: Sarsfields prove too good for St Finbarr's in league final

Sarsfields 2-17 St Finbarr’s 0-12

Sarsfields won the Cork Camogie Senior League at Castle Road on Monday as they proved far too strong on the day for St Finbarr’s.

They were by far the better side overall, but they will also be aware that the Barrs were missing nine of the side that started the county final last year and will be far stronger in a few months for championship.

That said this was a very impressive display by the winners and if they produce that level of performance later this summer, they will be a hard side to beat.

They he quality displays from the likes of Olivia McAllen, Lucy Allen and Rachael Roche, with Keeva McCarthy the pick of the Barrs side.

Ella Woods opened the scoring for Sars but unfortunately for her she had to go off injured shortly afterwards.

Lucy Allen added a second as Sars were the quicker to settle.

Keeva McCarthy got the Barrs off the mark from a fee and she added a second from play, to make it 0-2 each after six minutes.

Maeve McCarthy put Sars back in front with Keeva McCarthy replying at the other end in an entertaining start to the game.

Another from Keeva McCarthy put the Barrs in front as they led by 0-4 to 0-3 after 14 minutes.

Allen got her second, with Aoife Byrne replying for the Barrs.

With 20 minutes gone it was level again when Clare Mullins scored for Sars as they finished the half strongly.

Olivia McAllen put them in front with Kate Fennessy extending their lead to 0-7 to 0-5.

Keeva McCarthy had a shot on goal well saved by Molly Lynch before Fennessy got the last score of the half as Sars led by 0-8 to 0-5 at half time.

Sars moved further ahead less than a minute into the second half when McAllen set up Mullins for their first goal, before Allen added a point, to make it 1-9 to 0-5.

Keeva McCarthy replied for the Barrs, as she proved to be their only scorer in the second half.

Roche got on the scoreboard for the winners, with Allen adding another, before McCarthy replied at the other end.

Mullins, Cliona Lynch and Hollie Herlihy extended Sars lead to make it 1-14 to 0-8 after 43 minutes.

McCarthy and Lynch exchanged points, before Sars got their second goal.

A superb ball from Lucy Kelly played McAllen in to find the back of the net and with it went any chance of a Barrs comeback.

Maeve McCarthy and Herlihy added points, with Keeva McCarthy replying but they were no more than consolation scores at that point as Sars ran out deserving winners to win back the cup they last won in 2023.

Scorers for Sarsfields: C Mullins 1-2, O McAllen 1-1, L Allen 0-4, M McCarthy, K Fennessy, C Lynch (f), H Herlihy 0-2 each, E Woods (f), R Roche 0-1 each.

St Finbarr’s: K McCarthy 0-11 (0-7 f), A Byrne 0-1.

SARSFIELDS: M Lynch; E Murphy, K Barry, T Elliott, L Kelly, L Dunlea, C O’Donovan; C Lynch, R Roche; L Allen, O McAllen, E Woods; C Mullins, M McCarthy, K Fennessy.

Sub: H Herlihy for E Woods (10 inj).

ST FINBARR’S: C Hurley; G Fitzgerald, A Egan, A O’Neill; C Golden, G O’Connor, I Keegan; A Shannon, K Cahalane; N Olden, K McCarthy, A Byrne; C Twomey, E Hurley, H Fitzpatrick.

Subs: J Keating for H Fitzpatrick (43), N Varian for A Byrne, S McTiernan for C Golden (both 54).

Referee: John Horgan, Inniscarra.