Sarsfields camogie were crowned four-in-a-row senior champions in Galway when they prevailed in a close encounter by 2-11 to 2-9 against Oranmore Maree on Saturday.
Sarsfields were clinical up front, while Oranmore Maree missed chances throughout the contest that would have helped them get over the line. The experience that Sarsfields have in grinding out victories in close encounters proved pivitol in this win.
Oranmore Maree started brightly with county star Ailish O’Reilly slotting over a free in the opening minute. Sarah Spellman responded with a fine point from play three minutes later before Eimear O’Donovan and Rachel Hanniffy replied with two quick fire points for Oranmore Maree, while Niamh McGrath responded for Sarsfields.
In the ninth minute, Spellman delivered a low ball into Klara Donohue who took on the Oranmore Maree defence before she laid off the pass to player of the game, Shannon Corcoran, who made no mistake in sticking the ball into the back of the Oranmore Maree net, before adding a point.
However, Oranmore replied through Niamh Hanniffy with a goal, but Sarsfields continued to have the upper hand when after a Siobhan McGrath free, Donohue finished a great passage of play into the net to leave four between the sides.
O’Donovan and Siobhan McGrath swapped scores, and although Oranmore Maree missed an ideal goal opportunity, O’Reilly frees left it Sarsfields 2-5 Oranmore Maree 1-6 heading into the break
McGrath and O’Reilly exchanged frees again before three unanswered points from Siobhan McGrath (2 ) and substitute Caoimhe Kelly out Sarsfields in the driving seat with 11 minutes remaining. O’Reilly did her best with two more frees, but again McGrath to leave four between them heading into the final few minutes.
Substitute and Galway U16 star Caoimhe Kelly produced a super score from an incredibly tight angle before Lauren O’Dea gave Oranmore Maree some hope with a goal three minutes from the end. They did get the opportunity to sneak another, but the Sarsfields defence stood strong to ensure to claim their sixth title in seven years and now defend their All-Ireland crown,
Sarsfields: L Glynn, R Kelly, L Ward, K Gallagher, T Kenny, M Cooney, J Daly, C McGrath, N McGrath (0-1F ), K Donohue (1-0 ), S Spellman (0-1 ), R Murray, S Corcoran (1-1 ), S McGrath(0-6, 0-4F ) & C Kenny. Substitutes: C Kelly(0-2 ) for Donohue, 43; C Cahalan for Cooney, 45; C McGrath for Kenny, 57.
Oranmore Maree: T Holland, M Keane, C Hanniffy, N Black, T Lawrence, C Brennan, R Black, A Finn, L O’Dea (1-0 ), N Hanniffy (1-0 ), E O’Donovan (0-2, 0-1F ), S Mannion, C Power, A O’Reilly (0-6F ) & R Hanniffy (0-1 ). Subs, A Connolly for Mannion, 44, E Gill for Power, 54.
