Sunday, 18 September 2016.
Sarsfields 1-10 Ardrahan 1-07.
Mullagh 1-16 Killimor 1-5
Lough Rea Hotel & Spa Senior Camogie Championship.
Mullagh: A. Donohue 0-10 (seven frees), C. Hardiman 1-1, C. Glennon 0-2, S. Dolan 0-2, P. Manning 0-1.
Killimor: AM Starr 1-0, M. Conroy 0-2 (both frees), C. Fahy 0-1, S. Keane 0-1, S. Breheny 0-1.
Sarsfields: N. McGrath 0-9 (eight frees, one penalty), S. McGrath 1-0, O. McGrath 0-1, K. Donohue 0-1, T.
Kenny 0-1.
Ardrahan: R. Hennelly 0-9 (seven frees), A. Lynskey 0-1.
Match reports – Darren Kelly:
This year’s County Senior Camogie Final will see Mullagh and Sarsfields lock horns for the first time after
both came through their semi-finals in Ballinasloe last Sunday. Mullagh’s victory came at the expense of
defending champions Killimor as a dominant third quarter put the 2014 winners into the decider on a 1-16
to 1-5 score line. Leading 1-5 to 1-3 at half-time, Mullagh put the accelerator down after the resumption
with six unanswered scores. Colette Glennon commenced the tally that saw Aoife Donohue, Colette
Hardiman, Patricia Manning and Sharon Dolan add white flags before a Martina Conroy free arrested the
slide for Killimor on the three quarter mark.
At that stage, the score was 1-11 to 1-4 and Killimor needed goals but two attempts for Sinead O’Hara
were both denied by keeper Caitriona Daly. Donohue pointed for Mullagh while Serena Breheny replied
for Liam Gordon’s charges but Killimor wouldn’t score again as a Donohue brace coupled with minors for
Dolan and Glennon ensured Mullagh ran out comfortable winners. It was much closer in the opening half
even though Mullagh always had their noses in front. Two Donohue points in the opening three minutes
gave the challengers the advantage before Ciara Fahy opened Killimor’s account in the 10th minute.
Despite Donohue getting her third, Susan Keane reduced arrears but with Donohue on form, the county
star added another brace making it 0-5 to 0-2 on 23 minutes. Conroy’s first free left two between them but
the opening 30 minutes finished with a welter of excitement with two points before referee John
McDonagh blew for half-time.
Hardiman has been ruthless at full forward for Mullagh this season and struck another goal in injury time
to deliver a blow to her opponents. But Killimor showed their relentless spirit to hit back immediately
when Ann Marie Starr’s effort carried over the line to leave just two between them. But Killimor couldn’t
stop Mullagh after the break as they relinquished their crown.
A dominant third quarter also told in the second game but it still took a late Siobhan McGrath goal with
three minutes remaining to give Sarsfields a 1-12 to 0-10 win over Ardrahan and move within 60 minutes
of a maiden county title. McGrath had been terrorising the opposing defence in the closing stages,
including winning a penalty, but delivered the crucial three-pointer to end Ardrahan’s challenge.
Ardrahan led 0-7 to 0-4 at half-time. After Niamh McGrath opened for Sarsfields in the third minute, Ava
Lynskey equalised within 60 seconds. Two more Niamh McGrath frees put the New Inn/Bullaun outfit clear
but three Rebecca Hennelly white flags gave Ardrahan a 0-4 to 0-3 advantage by the 20th minute. Again,
McGrath responded to level but three more Hennelly white flags had Mike Lynskey’s team in a
comfortable position at the short whistle.
However, it was Sarsfields who hit the ground running after the break with five unanswered points.
Captain Orlaith McGrath got on the scoreboard before sister Niamh delivered a hat-trick. And when Tara
Kenny split the posts on 41 minutes, Michael ‘Hopper’ McGrath’s side were 0-9 to 0-7 ahead. Ardrahan
were still in the hunt and Hennelly had a penalty saved before her free on 46 minutes left the minimum
between them. But when Niamh McGrath contributed two more including their penalty and Klara
Donohue scored, Sarsfields were in sight of the finish line. Hennelly reduced arrears to three before
Siobhan McGrath made her impact with the crucial major. Hennelly did finish with her ninth score but the
result was assured as Sarsfields guaranteed an all east Galway affair against Mullagh on 9 October.
