SENIOR
Sarsfields v St Vincents (Dublin)
Date: 10 Dec, 1:30pm
Venue: St Brendan’s Park, Birr
Ref: John Dermody
FT: Sarsfields 1-11 St Vincents 1-10
Player of the Match: Maria Cooney (Sarsfields)
SCORERS:
Sarsfields: S McGrath 1-6 (1-0 pen. 0-3 Fs), N McGrath 0-2 Fs, C McGrath, K Donohue and S Corcoran 0-1 each.
St. Vincents: A Maher 0-10 (9 Fs, 1 ’45), A Maguire 1-0.
MATCH VIDEO: Sarsfields v St Vincents (via Camogie Association YouTube Channel)
MATCH REPORT
by Sarah Gaughran, Galway Camogie PRO
Sarsfields overcame St Vincent’s from Dublin on Saturday in Birr, keeping their dreams of winning back-to-back All Ireland titles alive. While Sarsfields did get off to a dream start, St Vincent’s must be credited for pushing the All Ireland Champions all the way to the final whistle. Sarsfields experience of grinding out victories in All Ireland semi finals over the last few years proved vital when it came to the final few minutes of the game.
Conditions were very cold and wintery in Birr but that did not phase Sarsfields as they got 4 points in the opening 4 minutes. Points from Niamh McGrath through a free, Siobhan McGrath through a free and a point and Shannon Corcoran with a point from play meant that Sarsfields got off to a dream start in the game. Aisling Maher had a goal chance to get St Vincent’s off the mark on 6 minutes, but Laura Glynn must be credited for a fantastic save in the Sarsfields goal. Maher added a free a minute later to get St Vincent’s off the mark. Klara Donohue and Clodagh McGrath added a point each to Sarsfields tally on the 10 minute while Maher added another free to her tally to leave it 0-6 to 0-2 at the halfway point in the half in favour of Sarsfields. Niamh McGrath from play and Siobhan McGrath through a free extended Sarsfields lead to 6 by the 25th minute. St Vincent’s who were trying hard to get scores were preforming well and finished the half the strongest. Maher added 2 frees to the St Vincent’s tally while Alison McGuire got the first major of the game when she finished the ball into the back of the Sarsfields net after a well worked team score to leave 1 between the sides at the half time break.
St Vincent’s continued the second half just like they finished the first half with three points on the trot through frees from Maher to give them a two-point lead, 7 minutes into the second half. Sarsfields were finding it hard to come to terms with the physicality that St Vincent’s began bringing to the game. But Galway Senior Camogie star settled the ship for Sarsfields scoring 1-3 without reply for Sarsfields with the all-important goal that proved decisive at the end of game coming on the 46th minute. These would be Sarsfields last scores of the game. St Vincent’s never gave up with their forwards pushing the Sarsfields backs and causing them to concede frees. Maher pointed three more frees for St Vincent’s before the finish, but it was too little too late as Sarsfields ran out 1-11 to 1-10 winners on the day.
Sarsfields will now look forward to an All-Ireland Final the week before Christmas as they will take on Loughgeil Shamrocks in Croke Park on Saturday at 6:30PM. Sarsfields will be delighted with the way they defended 3 goal chances for St Vincent’s and they will be happy with the way they started the game as that proved to lay the foundation for their victory. St Vincent’s will look back on their slow start and missed goal chances that could have booked them their place in Croke Park but they can be proud of their performance against the All Ireland Champions. Sarsfields will hope to add a third All Ireland title to their role of honour on Saturday.
ADDITIONAL:
- Sarsfields 1-11 St. Vincent’s 1-10 (All-Ireland Senior Semi-Final Report & Reaction) – Galway Bay FM
- Sarsfields come out on top against St Vincent’s to reach All-Ireland final – The42.ie
- Camogie round-up: Sarsfields and Loughgiel win to set up All-Ireland final clash – Irish Independent
- Sarsfields defeat St Vincents in All-Ireland Club Semi-Final – The Commentary from Darren Kelly and Imelda Hobbins – Galway Bay FM
Match photos
(Photo credit: INPHO)
SENIOR SEMI FINAL PREVIEW
- Sarsfields vs St. Vincent’s (All-Ireland Senior Semi-Final Preview) – Galway Bay FM
- Sarsfields’ Maria Cooney Chats To Galway Bay FM Ahead of All-Ireland Senior Semi-Final – Galway Bay FM
- Injury-hit Sarsfields facing testing battle in semi-final – Connacht Tribune
- Back-to-back bid and injury struggles – Cooney and Sarsfields have eyes on the prize – The42.ie
Sarsfield’s Road to Semi Final:
- Senior A Club County Final: Sarsfields 2-11 Oranmore Maree 2-9 (Match report)
- Senior A Club County Semi Final: Sarsfields 0-15 Athenry 0-12 (Match report)
INTERMEDIATE
Castlegar v James Stephens (Kilkenny)
Date: 10 Dec, 1pm
Venue: Maguires Pitch, South Campus, University of Limerick
Ref: Cathal McAllister
FT: Castlegar 0-8 James Stephens 1-10
MATCH VIDEO: Castlegar v James Stephens (via Camogie Association YouTube Channel)
Match report
by Sarah Gaughran, Galway Camogie PRO
Castlegar’s dreams of adding a second All Ireland Intermediate title to their role of honour, 10 years on from when they won it first, ended on Saturday when they lost out to James Stephen’s from Kilkenny at the semi final stages. Castlegar, who had to battle through the freezing conditions, will look back on their missed chances, but they can be proud of the way they battled throughout the game.
Emma Murphy from Castlegar and Emma Manogue from James Stephens exchanged early scores in the opening 3 minutes as both sides’ defences stood strong, making it hard for both sets of forwards
to score. Sophie O’Dwyer added two points for James Stephens on the 7th and 8th minutes to open up a two-point lead for the Village. Castlegar had a goal chance on the 13 th minute, but Roisin Crowe was denied by a fantastic save by James Stephen’s keeper, Lucy McGrath. Crowe tried to get onto the end of the rebound but when Caoimhe Callanan caught the ball, it looked like Castlegar were going to get the goal they deserved. But Callanan was also denied a goal chance by McGrath who pulled off a fantastic second save. Chloe Broderick did manage to send over a point Castlegar to ensure they gained some momentum from the passage of play to leave it 0-3 to 0-2 in favour of James Stephens halfway through the first half. O’Dwyer added 3 unanswered points through a 45m free and two more from play to leave 4 between the sides. Broderick ensured Castlegar had the final say of the half when she got her second point of the game to leave it James Stephens 0-6 Castlegar 0-2 heading into the half time break.
It was James Stephens who started the brightest when she slotted over her 6th point of the game. However, Castlegar started to show their fight and determination when the Broderick twins, Elisha and Chloe, and Callanan all added points to Castlegar’s tally to leave the minimum between the sides with 14 minutes of normal time remaining in the game. James Stephens captain, Niamh Deely, ended Castlegar’s scoring spree when she slotted over a point for her side on the 48 th minute. It was then a minute later when the James Stephens got the most crucial score of the game. Minogue and Niamh Butler teamed up to set up Michelle Teehan, with the All Ireland Senior medal winner and All Star nominee for Kilkenny making no mistake in sticking the ball into the back of the Castlegar net. Castlegar, however, showed that they were not panicking with the Broderick sisters adding two points to Castlegar’s tally. O’Dwyer added the insurance score for James Stephens in injury time through a free while Deely added another point from play to ensure that James Stephens were going to be heading to Croke Park on the 17 th of December. It finished James Stephens 1-10 Castlegar 0-8.
Castlegar can hold their heads up high after a fantastic year for the team. They remained unbeaten in the championship up until this point and they have League, Championship and Connacht titles to their name for the 2022 season. They have plenty of young players coming through that will have gained massive experience from this journey. Castlegar can look forward to playing Senior B camogie in Galway in the 2023 season.
ADDITIONAL:
- James Stephens 1-10 Castlegar 0-8 (All-Ireland Intermediate Semi-Final Report & Reaction) – Galway Bay FM
- Castlegar caught out down home stretch of tight affair – The Connacht Tribune
Match photos
(Photo credit: INPHO)
INTERMEDIATE SEMI FINAL PREVIEW
Castlegar’s Road to Semi Final:
- Intermediate Club County Final: Castlegar 0-9 Salthill Knocknacarra 0-8 (Match report)
- Intermediate Club County Semi Final: Castlegar 0-12 Killimor 0-05 (Match report)
