Sarsfields are once again celebrating success on the biggest stage.
Overcoming holders Oulart The Ballagh by 3-12 to 4-5, Sarsfields secured their second championship crown at Croke Park, and in doing so avenged last season's defeat to the same opposition in the space of ten weeks
Siobhán McGrath was the headline act, scoring a goal and seven points, but she also epitomised Sarsfields' workrate and industry which they needed against Oulart-The Ballagh, who had dethroned the Galwegians in the 2020 decider played just before Christmas.
“We really were shown up big time in December,” said McGrath. “They absolutely hurled us off the pitch. We really put our shoulder to the wheel after that. I don’t think we’ve ever trained at such an intensity. We just put our standards up so much. They made us look at ourselves, so it’s great and the inside forward line were fantastic that way, tackling like dogs.”
McGrath was ably assisted by sister Niamh and Sarah Spellman who contributed to a dominance around the middle third.
Ursula Jacob had pointed a 45 for OTB in the fifth minute, but by that stage Sarsfields already had 1-2 on the board with McGrath hitting a goal and a point. The goal arrived in the third minute, McGrath rounding Aideen Brennan and placing a shot to the far corner, while sister Orlaith also found the target.
Although Shelly Kehoe scored a 15th minute goal for OTB, the Galway outfit maintained their push Tara Kenny soloed in from the right, and her shot slipped from the grasp of OTB netminder Lauren Sinnott and crept into the corner of the net. Four minutes later, Sinnott made a double save from Sarah Spellman and Shannon Corcoran, but was helpless when Cora Kenny finished to the net off the sod.
Oulart-The Ballagh's Úna Leacy blasted to the roof to for a 3-6 to 2-4 at half-time, but Sarsfields were not going to be denied for a second year. Although Anais Curran reduced the margin to just four after two Siobhán McGrath quick points, the Galway outfit were just too clinical in the end.
Siobhán McGrath's four points in a row doubled the margin and though Stacey Kehoe pointed with eight minutes of normal time remaining, Sarsfields defended resolutely. Leacy did bag her second goal from a 20m free, but it was too late to deny Sarsfields.
Scorers for Sarsfields: S McGrath 1-7(0-4fs ); C Kenny 1-1; T Kenny 1-0; O McGrath 0-2; N McGrath, K Donohue 0-1 each.
Scorers for Oulart The Ballagh: Ú Leacy 2-0 (1-0f ); U Jacob 0-3(2fs, 1 45 ); Shelly Kehoe, A Curran 1-0 each; Stacey Kehoe 0-2.
SARSFIELDS: L Glynn, R Kelly, L Ward, K Gallagher, M Cooney, T Kenny, J Daly, S Spellman, N McGrath, K Donohue, C McGrath, O McGrath, S Corcoran, S McGrath, C Kenny. Subs: R Murray for Corcoran (50 ), C Cahalan for C McGrath (60+1 ).
OULART-THE BALLAGH: Lauren Sinnott, M O’Dowd, A Brennan, K Roche, A Dunne, C Storey, M Leacy, Stacey Kehoe, A Curran, K Gallagher, Shelly Kehoe, Louise Sinnott, L Nolan, Ú Leacy, U Jacob. Subs: Siobhán Sinnott for Nolan (47 ), Shauna Sinnott for Louise Sinnott (47 ).
