Injury trouble for Sarsfields ahead of St Vincent’s clash

By Eanna O’Reilly

2019 county senior champions Sarsfields are set to face off against Leinster title holders St. Vincent’s of Dublin, in Nenagh on Sunday (2pm) in the All-Ireland camogie club semi-final.

Sarsfields are hoping to come through the semi-final stage in the All-Ireland series for the third time, having successfully navigated the penultimate stage of the championship in 2017 and ‘18.

On both occasions, the east Galway club suffered subsequent heartbreak in the final against Derry camogie queens Slaughtneil, which will give them additional motivation to go one step further this time around. However, Sarsfields will be keenly aware of the challenge posed by St. Vincent’s, who provide very strong opposition for Michael McGrath’s side.

The Dublin outfit won the Leinster senior camogie title last November following a replay victory over the defending champions, St. Martin’s of Wexford. The Marino based club are seeking to reach the final for the first time since 1998, their only other appearance in the decider. Interestingly, no club from Dublin has reached the final in the intervening years.

St. Vincent’s are led by Dublin camogie star Ali Maguire, who remains a prolific scorer from play and placed balls. Aisling Maher is also a top class forward at county level, winning an All-Star in 2017. They have strong defenders in Ciara O’Leary, Gráinne Quinn and Deirdre Johnstone, all of whom have played for Dublin in recent years. Ellen McGovern, Muireann Kelleher, Evelyn Twomey and Niamh Hetherton add to the strength of the Vincent’s side and bring further county experience.

Maher and Hetherton did the damage in the Dublin county final, scoring 3-7 between them as Vincent’s comprehensively defeated St. Jude’s on a 4-11 to 2-5 scoreline. Vincent’s subsequently drew the Leinster final against St. Martin’s on a score line of 0-10 apiece. They defeated the Wexford side by a narrow two-point margin in the replay (2-11 to 2-9) to book their place in the All-Ireland series.

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

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