Cork camogie semi-finals preview: St Finbarr's face Sarsfields as Blackrock take on Courcey Rovers
St Finbarr's Sorcha McCartan has been one of the outstanding performers in the SE Systems Cork senior camogie championship this season. She will be a key player for her club against Sarsfields on Sunday. Picture: Larry Cummins
Two close battles in store as the semi-finals of the SE Systems Cork senior camogie championship take place on Sunday.
First into action are Courcey Rovers and Blackrock, at 2pm, and that will be followed by St Finbarr’s v Sarsfields, at 4.30pm, with both games at MTU.
In the first game, Courcey Rovers will be favourites to advance, but will be wary of the threat of the Rockies.
They met in the first round of the group stages and the Ballinspittle side were far too strong for Blackrock. But since then the Rockies regrouped and expect will pose a far bigger threat to Courceys this time out.
In that group meeting Courceys were led by their Cork star Saoirse McCarthy, but others put in top-class performances, including the likes of their former Cork acees Fiona Keating and Linda Collins in attack.
Defensively Grainne Hannon and Aisling O’Reilly played their part in what was an overall impressive team performance.
Collins and Keating have continued to impress in attack for their side, with McCarthy driving them forward from midfield. Collins seems to have the happy knack of being in the right place at the right time and regularly finds the back of the net for her club.
The Rockies will look to the likes of their Cork players Hayley Ryan and Cliona O’Callaghan, the latter improving with every game in this championship.
Ryan never lets her club down and though currently working in Dublin regularly makes the trip home for training. Defensively Katelyn Hickley has been leading by example.
Anna Kearney is a top-class keeper and her puck-outs can be key for the Rockies as she finds players with ease, going long or short.
They will be conscious of their poor showing in their loss to Courceys – 2-16 to 1-9 – several weeks ago and will be determined to put that right on Sunday.
Should be a lot closer this time, but Courceys will be expected to advance to the final.
The Barrs are the defending champions and will be expected to get the better of Sars in what is expected to be another close encounter. They went on to win the Munster championship and only lost the All-Ireland final after a replay.
That won’t be on their minds for now as they can’t afford to look past Sars.
They will be boosted by the return of Kate Wall from Australia, but for how long she is home for is unclear at this stage. With or without Wall, this is a side packed with talented players. Up front Sorcha McCartan has been outstanding all through the championship, just like she was for Cork in the All-Ireland series.
She must be in the running for Player of the Year at national level at this stage and will be a handful for the Sars defence. You can add in others like Orlaith Cahalane, Nicole Olden, and Eimear Hurley, who will all need watching on Sunday.
Aisling Shannon and Liz O’Donovan are a formidable midfield pairing and defensively Gemma O’Connor’s considerable experience adds to the side. Around her Meabh Cahalane, Aoife O’Neill, and Aisling Egan are just some of the others that never let the Barrs down.
Sars equally have quality players in their side. Lucy Allen, Kate Fennessy, Orlaith, and Clare Mullins are all top-class forwards.
Rachel Roche and Cliona Lynch will give Shannon and O’Donovan a run for their money in midfield.
Ava Fitzgerald, Laura Dunlea, Lucy Kelly and Katie Barry will be determined to stop the Barrs attacking threat.
Both games should be tight, but Courcey Rovers and the Barrs will be slight favourites to make the final.
Courcey Rovers v Blackrock, 2pm; St Finbarr’s v Sarsfields, 4.30pm, both games at MTU.
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