Senior A Final: Sarsfields v Oranmore Maree

October 22, 2023
| No Comments

2023 Windows & Rooflights Ltd Senior A Club Championship Final

Sarsfields v Oranmore Maree
22 Oct, 4:30pm
Venue: Duggan Park
Ref: Liam Gordon
Senior A Trophy: Catherine Donnellan Cup

FT: Sarsfields 2-13 Oranmore Maree 0-7
Player of the Match: Clodagh McGrath (Sarsfields)

WATCH:

2023 Senior A Club Champions – Sarsfields

Sarsfields Senior Camogie Team – 2023 Senior A Club Champions

Back Row (L-R): Laoise McGrath, Erica Leslie, Laura Glynn, Cliona Cahalan, Sheena Warde, Aisling Dillon, Klara Donohue, Reitseal Kelly, Orlaith McGrath, Melissa McDonnell, Kate Gallagher, Elysia Cox, Rachel Murphy, Jasmine Scully, Emily Dillon, Aoibhe Deeley, Bronagh Deeley, Niamh McGrath,

Front Row (L-R): Ciara McGrath, Cora Kenny, Rachel Murray, Caoimhe Kelly, Sarah Spellman, Clodagh McGrath, Siobhán Mc Grath, Laura Ward, Tara Kenny, Ciara Kyne, Ciara Ward, Joanne Daly, Maria Cooney, Shannon Corcoran
Mascots: Oisín Helebert, Freya Helebert, Freddie Ward

Match Report

Sarsfields have been crowed Senior A county champions for a fifth time in a row after they overcame Oranmore Maree comfortably in the 2023 Windows and Rooflights Ltd Senior A Final. Sarsfields set the tone from the outset and were determined not to lose their crown. Their forwards had simply too much for the Oranmore Maree defence while Oranmore Maree were finding it hard to create any scores from play and were reliant on Ailish O’Reilly from placed balls throughout the contest.

Caoimhe Kelly opened the scoring in the second minute. The point was initially waved wide but the decision was overruled by referee Liam Gordan. Joanne Daly followed up straight away with a well taken long distance score. Ailish O’Reilly got Oranmore on the scoreboard after 8 minutes when she slotted over a point but Siobhán McGrath followed up with two of her own to leave three between the sides. Sarsfields got their first goal of the game on the midway point of the half. A well worked team score saw McGrath run through the heart of the Oranmore Maree defence uncontested. She laid the handpass off to Shannon Corcoran and Corcoran made no mistake in blasting the net into the back of the net to leave it 1-4 to 0-4 with 16 minutes remaining in the half.

Oranmore Maree answered the goal very quickly. O’Reilly slotted over her second of the day through a placed ball. Aisling Finn struck over a fantastic point from the sideline on the 16th minute while Eimear O’Donovan followed up with a very well taken long range score to leave it 1-4 to 0-4 in favour of Sarsfields on the 17th minute mark. It was Sarsfields however, who finished of the half the strongest scoring 1-4 without reply. Rachel Murray got her name on the scoring sheet on the 17th minute. McGrath followed up with another free before Murray laid off a lovely pass to Klara Donohue. Donohue took on the defence and laid off the ball over the head of Freya Leenane and into the path of McGrath and McGrath pulled on the ball first time and into the back of the net. Corcoran followed up with two more points from play before half time to leave it Sarsfields 2-8 Oranmore Maree 0-4 heading into the half time break.

McGrath and O’Reilly swapped frees at the beginning of the second half. Scores were hard to come by during the half with the sides going 12 minutes without a score in the game. O’Reilly pointed another free for Oranmore Maree on the midway point of the half. McGrath got her first point from play on the 47th minute but O’Reilly followed with Oranmore Maree’s last score of the game through a free on the 49th minute. It was the champions who finished the strongest. Caoimhe Kelly almost got a goal after she intercepted a pass from goalkeeper Tara Holland. She did however manage to slot the ball over the ball. Orlaith McGrath from play and Siobhán McGrath through a free had the final say on the game as Sarsfields ran out 2-13 to 0-7 winners on the day.

Oranmore Maree did try to work goal chances near the end of the game to try and reduce the deficit
but an O’Reilly penalty did go wide while Oranmore Maree just found it hard to break down the Sarsfields defence to get in for a goal. It will be a hard one for Oranmore Maree to take having lost three county finals in a row. The group will have to regroup and push on again for the 2024 season to capture that coveted title. For Sarsfields, they will now march onto the All Ireland Club series where they will be hoping to make it a hattrick of All Ireland Club titles in a row. They will now have to prepare for the weekend of the 2nd / 3rd of December where they will take on the Munster Champions.

ADDITIONAL

Match Photos

Photo credit: Don Soules Photography

Oranmore Maree Senior Camogie Team – 2023 Senior A Club Finalists

Back Row (L to R): Clodagh Mahon, Róisín Black, Róisín McInerney, Aisling Finn, Christina Brennan, Sacra Mannion, Aoibhe Monaghan, Niamh Hanniffy, Clodagh Power, Amy Connolly, Tara Holland, Emily Gill, Sarah Blake, Cecelia Furey, Shannon Keady, Aisling Black, Katie Killilea, Lorraine Reynolds, Caoimhe Joyce

Front Row (L to R): Tara Lawrence, Rebecca Grealish, Niamh Black, Ciara Hanniffy, Ailish O’Reilly, Isla Holland (mascot), Eimear O’Donovan, Rachael Hanniffy, Maria Tarpey, Freya Leenane, Laura Stephens, Ciara Burke, Hannah Mangan, Megan Shaughnessy, Hannah Doyle.

Player of the Match: Clodagh McGrath

Match Report

Match Preview

Barry Leenane, Christina Brennan (Oranmore-Maree), Declan Lally (Windows & Rooflights Ltd., Senior A and B Championship Sponsor), Kate Gallagher and Michael ‘Hopper’ McGrath (Sarsfields)

MATCH PREVIEW

The 2023 Windows and Rooflights LTD Senior A Camogie Final will see a repeat of the 2021 and 2022 finals with the current All Ireland and County Champions, Sarsfields, taking on the runners up from the county final for the last two years, Oranmore Maree.

Sarsfields will be looking to make it six titles in seven years today as they take on familiar rivals in Oranmore Maree in their eight consecutive final. Sarsfields overcame Craughwell, and Oranmore Maree in the opening stages of the group stages while they did suffer a defeat to Athenry in the third round of the group games but they bounced back in the final group game to overcome Ardrahan and to top their group. By topping their group, it set up a quarter-final showdown with St Thomas’ who topped their group in Senior B. St Thomas’ put up a strong first half showing but Sarsfields turned on another gear in the second half to overcome them comfortably. This victory set up a semi final against Mullagh. Mullagh would be no easy task with the strong team they have on paper with county stars, Aoife Donohue and Sarah Dervan in their panel. Sarsfields prevailed comfortably however after a very strong second half performance while also holding Mullagh scoreless from play throughout the contest. Sarsfields will be keen to add another county title to the roll of honour so they can keep their dreams of making it a hat-trick of All Ireland Titles in a row alive.

Oranmore Maree overcame Davitts in their opening game of the campaign. They did suffer a defeat to today’s rivals in the second round, but they bounced back and showed their determination by overcoming Mullagh and Carnmore in the final stages of the group. As a result, Oranmore Maree finished second in their group, and this set up a quarter final pairing with Ardrahan. Ardrahan started the brightest in this contest, but Oranmore’s experience shone through to help them in getting over the line to set up semi final contest against Athenry. Athenry started the brightest going seven points in at half time but Oranmore’s determination to book their place in the 2023 Windows and Rooflights LTD Senior A county final was evident as they ran out five-point victors on the day. Oranmore Maree will have to be hurting after the last two county final defeats against Sarsfields. They came so close last year and will be hoping that it will be a case of third time lucky.

Sarsfields are without their captain for the last few years, Niamh McGrath, while they are also missing sharpshooter Cora Kenny due to an injury. However, Orlaith McGrath is back in the forwards for Sarsfields after recovering from her ACL injury. Without some of these key players, Oranmore Maree may see it as an opportunity to put the hurt of the last two years behind them as they will look to claim the Catherine Donnellan cup today. They will be worried about the fitness of county star Niamh Hanniffy after her knee was heavily strapped in the second half of the semi final due to an injury she picked up in the first half. The last two years have proven to be close and exciting contests and this year will be no different as we look forward to seeing who will claim the Catherine Donnellan cup.

ADDITIONAL

Club, Club Senior