Impressive Sarsfields back at summit of local camogie

Sarsfields 1-11

St. Thomas’ 0-7

Eanna O’Reilly in Loughrea

SARSFIELDS won their third senior camogie championship title in four years at St. Brendan’s Park on Saturday, overcoming a spirited but limited St. Thomas’ challenge. Sarsfields showed all of their championship winning experience on the day, dominating in key areas of the field and taking their scoring chances clinically.

It was a comprehensive victory for Michael McGrath’s team, who proved their credentials once again as the strongest force in Galway camogie. For St. Thomas’, it was a day of regrets, as they never got their game going at any stage. In contrast, Sarsfields dominated almost every position on the field and were full value for their victory. Based on their consistency throughout the championship, as well as their final performance, they are well deserving winners of the senior county title for 2019.

Prior to the game, Sarsfields were boosted by the availability of county star Sarah Spellman, who had recovered sufficiently from a thumb injury to start in the half forward line. However, a hip injury to wing back Erica Leslie forced a change in their starting fifteen. Clodagh McGrath was repositioned to the half back line, while they started with a new midfield pairing of Niamh McGrath and Aoibhe Deeley.

The opening ten minutes were evenly contested. Siobhán McGrath opened the scoring for Sarsfields with a point, before Sarah Healy equalised with a pointed free. Three minutes later, a strong run by Sarah Spellman saw her go through on goal before being fouled in the square for a penalty. However, Niamh McGrath’s shot was well saved by Sinéad Skehill.

Siobhán McGrath pointed her first free soon after, before scoring an excellent individual point a minute later. Sarah Healy showed her dead ball proficiency for Thomas’ once again, by pointing a free from the halfway line, before McGrath re-established a two-point lead for Sarsfields soon after with her second free.

Already the St. Thomas’ defenders were really struggling to get to grips with the elusive full forward, who scored another excellent point from play in the 18th minute. Healy kept Thomas’ in touch with her third pointed free, but they were really struggling to create scoring chances from open play. The Sarsfields defence was shutting them down effectively, with Kate Gallagher, Laura Ward, Joanne Daly and Maria Cooney particularly effective.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.