Sarsfields show no mercy in comprehensive Galway camogie final win over Oranmore Maree

Sarsfields had accomplished performers including Kate Gallagher, Laura Ward, Laoise and Ciara McGrath, and Maria Cooney in defence.

Keeper Eva Murray produced four outstanding saves while in attack, Siobhán McGrath, Shannon Corcoran, Sarah Spellman, Caoimhe Kelly and Donohue were the pick of an impressive unit.

While Oranmore-Maree will be disappointed not to have managed a goal, the grim reality was they only registered once from play throughout the contest.

Ailish O’Reilly’s free and Eimear O’Donovan’s effort from play gave them a 0-2 to 0-0 lead on three minutes, but that advantage soon evaporated when Orlaith McGrath started a Sarsfields move on the right that led to Kelly supplying Siobhán McGrath for the first goal.

The turning point was two minutes later when Oranmore-Maree came close to a breakthrough but efforts for Hannah Mangan and Niamh Farrell were blocked by Murray. Corcoran (2) and Siobhán McGrath made it 1-3 to 0-2 on 12 minutes.

O’Reilly led Oranmore-Maree’s charge with nine scores; keeper Sacra Mannion produced two stops, while Rachael Hanniffy worked hard in midfield. But this contest started to pass them by, and their wait for a first senior crown since 1981 will continue.

Oranmore-Maree reduced arrears to 1-5 to 0-5 by the 21st minute with O’Reilly converting three more placed balls either side of a Siobhán McGrath brace before Sarsfields pounced again.

Corcoran fed Siobhán McGrath whose high pass towards Donohue still resulted in their second goal. Kelly, Corcoran and Siobhán McGrath pushed them nine clear, but two O’Reilly frees left the margin at 2-8 to 0-7 at half-time.

In perfect conditions, the stiff breeze was still significant, but Oranmore-Maree defied that to restore a competitive edge to this final. Sarsfields were risking frees and three were punished by O’Reilly who reduced arrears to 2-9 to 0-10 on 38 minutes. But they didn’t score again!

Spellman, with six assists over the hour, was rewarded with the Sarsfields point and Michael ‘Hopper’ McGrath’s team drove on. Kelly, Siobhán McGrath (2) and Corcoran made it 2-13 to 0-10 before the latter set up Donohue for the clinching goal on 47 minutes.

That spelled the moment for both teams to start making changes and Sarsfields added four more points in the final quarter. Both keepers produced stops again with Mannion denying Siobhán McGrath.

And an Oranmore-Maree penalty saw Murray save from O’Reilly before a second, for a foul on Hanniffy, resulted in the four time All-Ireland winner slicing her shot wide.

Siobhán McGrath finished with three more points, including a superb strike from 70 yards, while substitute Mary Brigid Cosgrove was also on target. The four-time All-Ireland winners are back on the national stage and will play the Munster champions at the end of November.

​Sarsfields: E Murray; K Gallagher, L Ward, Ciara McGrath; L McGrath, M Cooney, J Daly; R Kelly, N McGrath; O McGrath, C Kelly (0-2), S Spellman (0-1); K Donohue (2-0), S Corcoran (0-4), S McGrath (1-9, 5f, 1’45). Subs: Clodagh McGrath for O McGrath (49), C Kenny for Corcoran (49), MB Cosgrove (0-1) for Daly (52), E Dillon for Cooney (59), C Kyne for N McGrath (59).

Oranmore-Maree: S Mannion; A Finn, T Lawrence, C Hanniffy; S Duffy, R Black, A Burke; R Hanniffy, H Mangan; F Leenane, A O’Reilly (0-9, 8f, 1’45), E O’Donovan (0-1); E O’Donnell, N Farrell, N Hanniffy. Subs: L Fogarty for Lawrence (HT), G Grealish for Mangan (50), A Black for Farrell (55), R Coleman for O’Donovan (59).

Referee: J Burke.