Loss of Hanney is a blow to Killimor's bid for trio of titles

Eoghan Cormican

Influential full-forward Brenda Hanney has been ruled out of the Killimor set-up ahead of the Loughrea Hotel & Spa County senior camogie final at Duggan Park this Sunday (2.45pm).

Hanney, who captained Killimor to their first senior title in 2010, sustained a calf injury in a clash with Mullagh’s Sarah Dervan during the County semi-final a fortnight ago and manager Tommy Callagy confirmed to Tribune Sport this week that the towering sharpshooter will play no part in their three-in-row bid.

“She’s hardly able to walk to be honest. Brenda is obviously a huge loss, but like any team we just to have to get on with things and hopefully the rest of the girls will do the business in her absence.”

The reigning champions, appearing in their fourth consecutive senior final, are bidding to complete the three-in-a-row in what has been a glorious spell of supremacy for the East Galway club. Standing in their way is a Sarsfields side making their senior final debut just two years after earning promotion from the intermediate ranks.

Certainly, Killimor have been the form team of 2012, easing through the group stages with three wins from three outings, including a hugely comfortable 2-14 to 1-6 victory over Sarsfields last month. Old nemesis Mullagh provided the challenge at the penultimate hurdle, but a blistering Killimor start punctuated by a Susan Keane goal laid the platform for a 1-6 to 0-5 win.

Regardless of previous meetings, Tommy Callagy is wary of the Sarsfields challenge, their attack drawing particular praise from the Killimor manager.

“The fact that we beat them 11 points earlier on in the championship means they’ll be out for revenge. They have a lovely style of camogie and their forward line is very impressive, whereas ours failed to score for 31 minutes of the semi-final. Five or six of their girls have played with Galway at various levels and they have won the last two County minor titles, so we will have it all to do.”

Though failing to secure a victory in their first year at senior level, Sarsfields have made huge strides in the past number of months and manager Cyril Murray, along with his backroom team, has moulded an impressive outfit.

Tara Kenny anchors the defence from centre-back with Aisling Spellman providing able cover on the edge of the square. Clodagh McGrath and Gemma Flynn will have it all to do at midfield against the ever impressive Emer Haverty/Ann Marie Starr partnership, but it is in attack where Sarsfields possess the ability to cause major problems for their opponents.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.