Second-half goal seals deal for Sarsfields

Sarsfields will meet old foes Slaughtneil in the All Ireland Senior Club Camogie Championship final in Croke Park in March.

The Galway outfit saw off Dublin's St Vincent's by 1-13 to 0-8 at MacDonagh Park-Nenagh on Sunday, while current holders Slaughtneil overcame Scariff-Ogonnelloe by 2-10 to 1-10.

The two rivals, who have met twice in the past three years, will face each other again, with the Derry side looking for their fourth successive title.

Slaughtneil will be favourites, but the County Galway side will be hoping it is a case of third time lucky for them, having lost in 2016/17 by 1-10 to 0-11, and 1-9 to 2-11 the following season.

Sarsfields, who continue to grow since that first All Ireland final three seasons ago, demonstrated their staying power against St Vincent's last weekend after leading by a single point at the interval, 0-6 to 0-5.

Backed by the four McGrath sisters, it was the youngest Siobhán who did the damage, finishing top scorer with 10 points, two of those from play.

However it took a second-half goal from Rachel Murray six minutes after the interval that turned the tide. Deflecting the sliotar to the net following Niamh McGrath’s long free, Murray's goal sealed the deal.

Sarsfields' manager Michael McGrath says the goal was a big boost coming after the break.

"We took over the halfback/midfield/ half forward line and starting winning the puck-outs. We created more chances, didn't convert all of them, but it was enough to get over the line. The goal was a big boost. We had a few more chances, but we got enough and that is the main thing."

Sarsfields now have several weeks to prepare for their March 1 date in Croke Park.

"Any time you get to an All Ireland final, you'd have to be happy," he says. "Even through we've been on the road three or four years, they are young girls, but they have matured a lot and their work ethic is great.

"Slaughtneil are a magnificent team. They are a huge club team, and concentrate so much on it, and we will have to play the best game of our life to win this All Ireland."

In the intermediate championship, Carnmore were undone by two goals from St Rynagh’s. In a keenly-contested match, Carnmore started well with Lorraine Crowe to the fore. A goal gave Rynagh's a 1-9 to 0-9 lead at the break, and although it was nip and tuck in the second half, ultimately it was a second goal that proved the difference, 2-13 to 0-13.

 

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