Sarsfields v Dicksboro (Kilkenny)
Date: 17 Dec, 5:15pm
Venue: Croke Park
Referee: Ray Kelly
FT: Sarsfields (Galway) 1-11 Dicksboro (Kilkenny) 0-18
MATCH REPORT
Sarsfields dreams of making it three All Ireland titles in a row was dashed on Sunday after a strong finish from Dickboro, helped them in sealing their first ever All Ireland crown. The game was end to end from the outset but Dickboro managed to hold Sarsfields scoreless for twenty minutes in the second half while also tagging along their own scores and this was key to their victory in Croke Park.
It was the reigning champions who started the brightest with Orlaith McGrath slotting over a well taken point from play on the 3rd minute. Player of the game, Aoife Prendergast responded straight away with their opening score on the 4th minute. Prendergast through a free and Rachel Murray added points for each side on the 8th minute. Both sides were going score until the 15th minute with Caoimhe Kelly and Siobhán McGrath adding frees for Sarsfields while Orla Hanrick and Prendergast through a free to leave the sides level at the end of the first quarter. Prendergast with a free and Ava O’Gorman gave Dicksboro a two point lead heading into the final 20 minutes. Kelly replied with a free from her favoured side. Rachel Dowling and Jenny Clifford to three points by the 23rd minute. Siobhán McGrath came to life however scoring 1-1 in the space of a minute. She started with a well taken point from play and then a short puck out was intercepted by Orlaith McGrath and Orlaith took on the Dicksboro defence and laid off the pass to her sister and Siobhán took a sidestep and blasted the ball into the back of the net to give them the lead back for the first time since the 4th minute. The goal did not rock Dickboro however as they finished with points from Asha McHardy and Hanrick as Dicksboro went in 0-10 to 1-6 ahead at half time.
Both sides have been noted for their strong second half performances in the campaign to date. Sarsfields punished Sarsfields from Cork in the second half of their semi final while Dicksboro came from five points down at half time to overcome Loughgiel Shamrocks by six points in their semi final. Siobhán McGrath brought the sides level inside the opening minute through a free. Prendergast and McGrath swapped scores on the 35th and 36th minutes respectively. Sarah Spellman and Shannon Corcoran slotted over points for Sarsfields and it looked like the champions were going to pull away heading towards the midway point of the half. However a strong fifteen minutes was key to Dicksboro as they slotted over seven points without reply. Prendergast with four frees, two points from their captain Amy Clifford and a point from Ciara O’Shea, laid the stepping stones for their victory. Klara Donohue added a point on the 63 rd minute but it wasn’t enough as Dickboro ran out 0-18 to 1-10 winners on the day.
Dickboro had a fine spread of scorers with eight players scoring from play throughout the contest. Their ability to finish games strongly was key to their victory as they grounded down Sarsfields in the final few minutes. Sarsfields have been wonderful champions and have given so much to Galway over the last few years having appear in 7 of the last eight finals. It isn’t the end of the road for the young Sarsfields side and there is no doubt that they will be back again in 2024.
SCORERS FOR SARSFIELDS: S McGrath 1-4(0-2fs); C Kelly 0-2fs; O McGrath, R Murray, S Spellman, S Corcoran, K Donohue 0-1 each
SCORERS FOR DICKSBORO: A Prendergast 0-9(7fs); J Clifford, A Clifford 0-2 each; A O’Gorman, A McHardy, R Dowling, O Hanrick, C O’Shea 0-1 each
SARSFIELDS: L Glynn, R Kelly, L Ward, K Gallagher, T Kenny, M Cooney, J Daly, C McGrath, S Spellman, K Donohue, O McGrath, R Murray, S Corcoran, S McGrath, C Kelly. Sub: C Kenny for C Kelly (59)
DICKSBORO: K Maher, T Clifford, J Cass, K Byrne, N Phelan, C Dowling, C Phelan, C O’Shea, A O’Gorman, A McHardy, A Clifford, R Dowling, A Prendergast, O Hanrick, J Clifford. Sub: L Gahan for R Dowling (45), R Kelly for Hanrick (55), N O’Donoghue for O’Shea (60+4), T McGrath for A Clifford (60+4)
ADDITIONAL:
- 17/12/2023: Heartbreak for Sarsfields in All-Ireland Camogie Club Final – Commentary and Reaction – Galway Bay FM
- 17/12/2023: ‘Boro end Sarsfields reign and Noreside famine after cracker – Camogie Association
MATCH PREVIEW
By Sarah Gaughran, Galway Camogie PRO
Sarsfields quest to follow in the footsteps of Pearses camogie and make it a hat trick of All Ireland Senior club titles is still alive as they take on Dickboro of Kilkenny in the 2023 decider at 5:15PM in Croke Park. An impressive second half performance was pivotal in their semi final battle with Sarsfields from Cork as they booked their spot in this years final.
It is Sarsfields seventh final in eight years and during this period they have already captured the crown three times. Their captain throughout this period has been Niamh McGrath and she will be missing this year for them in the middle of the field as their full back, Laura Ward takes up the captaincy role. The Sarsfields team are no stranger to All Ireland final day and their experience of playing in Croke Park on this big occasion will stand to them in comparison to Dicksboro, a side who are facing into their first final.
Sarsfields are still a youthful side but their ability to find players and spread the ball in the full forward line is a key trait of theirs. Their ability to deliver quick and low balls into their full forward line has been key to their success in their games to date. There was nothing between themselves and Sarsfields of Cork in the Semi Final at half time but they found another gear in the second half and weathered any storm that came their way.
Dickboro, while it is their first All Ireland Final, they have already faced Sarsfields in a challenge game back in August with the Kilkenny outfit coming out on top that day. They are a close bunch with lots of family relationships throughout the team with three Clifford sisters and three Phelan sisters on the panel. They are quite a determined side that never give up having come from behind to overcome St Vincent’s of Dublin in the Leinster Final and last year’s All Ireland finalists, Loughgiel Shamrocks in the All Ireland Semi Final. Their powerful second half performances have been key to getting them to the final tomorrow.
There will be absolutely nothing between the two traditional camogie sides as they take to the hollowed sod in Croke Park at 5:15PM on Sunday evening. The game will be live on RTE, their will be live commentary on Galway Bay FM and their will be live score updates on What’s the Scór.
ADDITIONAL PREVIEWS:
- 14/12/2023 Sarsfields’ ace believes their experience will stand to them – Connacht Tribune
- 14/12/2023 Sarsfields to play Kilkenny champions in hunt for three in-a-row – Galway Advertiser
- 12/12/2023: Sarsfields vs Dicksboro (All-Ireland Senior Club Camogie Final Preview from Both Camps) – Galway Bay FM
- 13/12/2023: Galway Camogie Podcast – Sarsfields take on Dicksboro – Maroon & White Podcasts
- 12/12/2023: Laura Ward relishing Sarsfields adventure – GAA.ie
- 12/12/2023: Camán Caint S05E18: Dicksboro v Sarsfields preview, All-Ireland camogie club finals weekend and more – ScoreLine.ie
