Youthful Sarsfields chasing big final date in Croke Park

TEN years since their breakthrough result, the Sarsfields All-Ireland winning Feile class step into the national senior camogie spotlight when they face Kilkenny’s Thomastown in the All-Ireland semi-final on Sunday in Birr (2pm).

The New Inn/Bullaun/Woodlawn outfit have risen through the underage ranks since that under 14 victory over Cork’s Milford in 2007, but few would have expected a senior success this quickly.

Niamh McGrath, the oldest starting player in their county final replay over Mullagh last October, was a member of that successful side and the east Galway club have continued to bring players through with four of the current squad members of last year’s All-Ireland winning under 16 team.

“I suppose at the time of the county final, it was the furthest thing from our mind,” said Sarsfields manager Michael ‘Hopper’ McGrath. “It was three or four months away. We’d a couple of months there where we probably didn’t do anything. We had celebrations and all that kind of thing. But we’re back training since the beginning of December and the semi-final is on top of us now.”

Sarsfields came through their group campaign in Galway with maximum points before coming from behind to defeat Ardrahan in the semi-final. Again, their resilience was called upon in the drawn final in Kenny Park when late points from Niamh and captain Orlaith McGrath forced another outing six days later.

A strong start in Duggan Park on October 15 set the platform in the replay before they showed their growing maturity in the second half with a strong defensive effort. Ultimately, Galway’s All-Ireland under 16 winning captain, Siobhan McGrath, got the defining goal with six minutes remaining.

Memories of Sarsfields’ All-Ireland club  hurlinmg successes in the early 1990s trickle down to the current generation of daughters and despite their youth, an experienced outfit will take to Birr hoping to become the fifth consecutive Galway side to reach Croke Park.

Yvonne Lyons was Galway’s under 16 goalkeeper in 2016; the full back line of Rachel Murphy, Laura Ward and Aisling Spellman have been a solid unit as have the half-backs of Erica Leslie and county seniors Tara Kenny and Clodagh McGrath.

Niamh and Orlaith McGrath and Maria Cooney, daughter of All-Ireland winner Joe, will cover the middle third with Kate Gallagher. Klara Donohue, Sarah Spellman and Siobhan McGrath will operate in the inside line, while Sinead Cannon, Gemma Flynn and Melinda Earls are others who can be called upon for the first-time Galway champions.

Full coverage in this week’s Connacht Tribune.