2021 All-Ireland Club Championship Finals

March 6, 2022
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In the 2021 AIB Club Championship Finals double-header at Croke Park on March 6, 2022, Sarsfields took on the 2020 All-Ireland Clubs Champions Oulart-The Ballagh (Wexford) in the senior decider, and Salthill-Knocknacarra were looking to knock 2020 All-Ireland Club intermediate champions St Rynagh’s (Offaly) off their perch.

Congratulations to Sarsfields who were crowned the 2021 All Ireland Senior Camogie Club Champions. Inspired by Siobhan McGrath, Sarsfields proved too good for Wexford’s Oulart The Ballagh in AIB All-Ireland Senior Camogie Club Final.

It was not to be for the Salthill Knocknacarra intermediate team who lost out to a brilliant St Rynagh’s side in the 2021 All Ireland Intermediate Camogie Club Final.

2021 AIB All-Ireland Senior Club Championship Final

Sarsfields v Oulart the Ballagh (Wexford)
Date: 6 Mar 2022, 4PM
Venue: Croke Park
Referee: Ray Kelly (Kildare)

FINAL SCORE: Sarsfields 3-12, Oulart the Ballagh 4-5

Player of the match: Siobhan McGrath

Match photos: via InphoSports

Sarsfields, 2021 All-Ireland Senior Club Champions

Match report

By Daragh Ó Conchúir, at Croke Park 

A scintillating performance by pocket rocket Siobhán McGrath was the headline act as Sarsfields gained revenge on their December conquerors Oulart-The Ballagh to get their hands back on the Bill and Agnes Carroll as AIB All-Ireland Senior Club Camogie Championship victors. 

McGrath scored a goal and seven points, the goal coming into the same Davin Stand end in which she rattled to net to snatch All-Ireland glory for Galway last September, but at least as notable was the pocket rocket’s sometimes manic workrate, which forced a number of turnovers. 

It was symptomatic of the controlled aggression and immense industry that Sarsfields brought to the game all over the pitch. They needed every bit of though, as Oulart-The Ballagh, who had dethroned the Galwegians in the 2020 decider played just before Christmas, would not go away, even though they were living on scraps at times with Niamh McGrath and Sarah Spellman contributing to a dominance around the middle third.  

OTB kept trading goals with their rivals but just could not create anything like the problems they caused at UPMC Nowlan Park in their last meeting. 

Ursula Jacob pointed a 45 for OTB in the fifth minute but by that stage, Sarsfields already had 1-2 on the board, with McGrath hitting a goal and a point. The goal arrived in the third minute, McGrath rounding Aideen Brennan and placing a shot to the far corner. Her sister Orlaith also found the target as Sarsfields looked to create plenty of space in attack in which to use their speed. 

The red and black jerseys are full of experience though and with so many players who had been part of the club’s three previous All-Ireland successes, as well as Wexford’s four from 2007-2012, they were never going to panic.  

That said, there was certainly an element of fortune to Shelly Kehoe’s 15th minute goal as her shot for a point dropped just under the crossbar as goalkeeper Laura Glynn collided with the upright while attempting to keep it out, just seconds after she had made an excellent save from Leanne Nolan. 

Back came Sarsfields, and a 26th minute goal arrived from the unlikeliest of sources in Tara Kenny, who soloed in from the right. Her shot slipped from the grasp of OTB netminder Lauren Sinnott and crept into the corner of the net. Four minutes later, Sinnott made a double save from Sarah Spellman and Shannon Corcoran but was helpless when Cora Kenny finished to the net off the sod. 

There was still time, however, for Oulart-The Ballagh to deliver a message, Úna Leacy blasting to the roof of the net after good work from Jacob, who drew the cover and slipped her long-time colleague in with a good hand-pass.  

That made it 3-6 to 2-4 at half-time. Siobhán McGrath clipped over two quick points before Anais Curran drove a fantastic goal with a second attempt in the 38th minute after a blinding run and first shot saved by Glynn. Now, there were just four between them. 

But Sarsfields were determined to secure a second title and not to lose a fourth final. They put the affair to bed in clinical fashion, with Siobhán McGrath in particular firing some outstanding scores from play, while also deadly accurate from placed balls. 

Four points in a row doubled the margin and though Stacey Kehoe pointed with eight minutes of normal time remaining, Sarsfields defended resolutely and when Leacy bagged her second goal from a 20m free that was deflected to the net as the game ticked into injury time, it was too late to prevent the trophy heading west. 

SCORERS FOR SARSFIELDS: S McGrath 1-7(0-4fs); C Kenny 1-1; T Kenny 1-0; O McGrath 0-2; N McGrath, K Donohue 0-1 each 

SCORERS FOR OULART-THE BALLAGH: Ú Leacy 2-0 (1-0f); U Jacob 0-3(2fs, 1 45); Shelly Kehoe, A Curran 1-0 each; Stacey Kehoe 0-2 

SARSFIELDS: L Glynn, R Kelly, L Ward, K Gallagher, M Cooney, T Kenny, J Daly, S Spellman, N McGrath, K Donohue, C McGrath, O McGrath, S Corcoran, S McGrath, C Kenny. Subs: R Murray for Corcoran (50), C Cahalan for C McGrath (60+1) 

OULART-THE BALLAGH: Lauren Sinnott, M O’Dowd, A Brennan, K Roche, A Dunne, C Storey, M Leacy, Stacey Kehoe, A Curran, K Gallagher, Shelly Kehoe, Louise Sinnott, L Nolan, Ú Leacy, U Jacob. Subs: Siobhán Sinnott for Nolan (47), Shauna Sinnott for Louise Sinnott (47) 

SARSFIELDS SENIOR PANEL:

Laura Glynn
Tara Kenny
Laura Ward (VC)

Player profile

Kate Gallagher
Reitseal Kelly
Maria Cooney
Joanne Daly
Clodagh McGrath
Niamh McGrath (C)

Player profile

Cora Kenny
Orlaith McGrath

Player profile

Sarah Spellman
Aoibhe Deeley
Siobhan McGrath
Rachel Murray
Sheena Ward
Klara Donohue
Aisling Dillon
Erica Leslie
Shannon Corcoran
Cliona Cahalan
Ciara Kyne
Rachel Murphy
Elysia Cox
Jasmine Scully
Sarah Gallagher
Denise Gormally
Melissa McDonnell
Ciara Ward

Management Team:
Michael McGrath, Olive Costello, John Noone and Kevin Ward
Medics: Anne Donohue and Mary Coyle
Hurley Carriers: Laoise and Ciara McGrath

Meet the captain: Niamh McGrath
Meet a player: Laura Ward (VC), Orlaith McGrath

Match Review:

Sarsfield’s road to the 2021 All-Ireland Senior Club Final:

2021 AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championship Final

Salthill Knocknacarra v St. Rynagh (Offaly)
Date: 6 Mar 2022, 2PM
Venue: Croke Park
Referee: Barry Nea

FINAL SCORE: Salthill Knocknacarra 2-6, St Rynagh 5-14

Match photos: via InphoSports

Salthill Knocknacarra, All-Ireland Intermediate Club finalist

Match report

By Daragh Ó Conchúir, at Croke Park 

Two goals from Siobhán Flannery and a second consecutive player-of-the-match return by Kate Kenny in All-Irelands were among the many highlights as St Rynagh’s made it back-to-back AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Club Camogie titles and in the process, ensured that the next Offaly championship winners will be operating at senior level next season. 

It always looked like a stiff task for Salthill-Knocknacarra against the hot favourites, with their joint captain Orla Callanan missing out due to a cruciate knee ligament injury. 

It got even more difficult when Flannery snuck in behind the Galway city side’s defensive cover in the fifth minute to goal after good work from Linda Sullivan and when Emma Madden received her marching orders for a second yellow-card offence in the 22nd minute, there was no way back. 

They earned a lot of fans by the manner in which they continued to battle all the way to the line, however, and a couple of late goals from Aisling Griffin and Sorcha McGinley were due reward for their efforts. 

Indeed their entire full-forward line were responsible for their three first-half points, which told of a potential threat had they been able to get enough ball in, but Róisín Egan and Gráinne Dolan were powerful presences further out, ensuring the traffic went in the other direction. 

And Rynagh’s had so much speed and movement, using the diagonal ball so astutely, that they seemed likely to score from every attack. 

Kenny and Flannery added second-half goals and Kenny ended with a tally of 1-9, with some of her points a wonder of accuracy and clean striking. 

At times it looked like Salthill-Knocknacarra would be overrun, with the Rynagh’s half-back line in complete control, and Vicky Flanagan made some tremendous saves before the goals came at the other end to put a better gloss on the scoreline. 

There was never any doubt about the ultimate verdict though as the powerful Saints had done the damage and were able to cruise home. 

SCORERS FOR ST RYNAGH’S: K Kenny 1- 9 (3fs, 1 45); S Flannery 2-0; M Daly, K O’Connell 1-0 each; E Corcoran, G Dolan, R Egan, L Sullivan, S Hanamy 0-1 each 

SCORERS FOR SALTHILL-KNOCKNACARRA: S McGinley 1-1; L Kelly 0-3(2fs); A Griffin 1-0; A Kelly, E Hayes 0-1 each 

ST RYNAGH’S: E Gilligan, S Moran, E Sullivan, M Doorley, E Corcoran, G Dolan, K O’Connell, H Dolan, R Egan, L Sullivan, S Hanamy, M Daly, L Mannion, K Kenny, S Flannery. Subs: L Flannery for S Flannery (45), C O’Connell for Doorley (48), A O’Regan for Sullivan (48), A McLoughlin for H Dolan (52), R Daly for O’Connell (52) 

SALTHILL-KNOCKNACARRA: V Flanagan, S Donnellan, E Madden, F Kelly, A Joyce, A Keane, C Murray, S Divilly, L Kelly, C Keane, A Griffin, J O’Flaherty, A Kelly, S McGinley, E Hayes. Subs: I Morrison for O’Flaherty (39), M Murray for Joyce (48), F O’Sullivan for Donnellan (52), H Hernon for A Kelly (59)  

SALTHILL KNOCKNACARRA INTERMEDIATE PANEL:

Vicky Flanagan
Sarah Donnellan
Ailbhe O'Grady Corcoran
Aoife Keane
Claire Murray
Aisling Griffin
Aoibhe Joyce
Camille Keane
Orla Callanan (JC)

Player profile

Siobhan Divilly (JC)

Player profile

Evie Hayes
Laura Kelly
Aoife Kelly
Sorcha McGinley
Emma Madden

Player profile

Ines Morrison
Mary Murray
Fiona O'Sullivan
Hannah Hernon
Fiona Kelly
Niamh Lyons
Joanne O'Flaherty
Ava Conlon
Sarah Keane
Aine Griffin
Neasa Daly

Management team:

Willie Madden, Cathal McGinley, PJ Kelly, Gerry Kelly, Tom Keane, Jane Tohill, Deirdre Kelly (Physio)

Meet the Captains: Orla Callanan, Siobhan Divilly
Meet a player: Emma Madden

Match Review:

Salthill Knocknacarra’s road to the 2021 All-Ireland Intermediate Club Final:

Match previews:

Club, Club Intermediate, Club Senior, Match Report
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