Sarsfields 0-15

Athenry 0-12

ALL-Ireland champions Sarsfields booked a seventh consecutive county senior camogie final appearance as they built a substantial lead over Athenry that proved enough at the finish.

Siobhan McGrath enjoyed the space around Ballinasloe on Sunday to register 11 points against an Athenry outfit who tested them for the second time in this campaign but again came up short.

However, the game wasn’t without talking points with an injury to Maria Cooney set to see her join Orlaith McGrath and Erica Leslie on the injured list for the final. And while it didn’t affect who advanced, confusion over the final result was another point of debate.

Sarsfields started quickly with two points in as many minutes. Niamh McGrath set the tone taking Sarah Spellman’s pass inside 50 seconds before she put over a free.

Sabina Rabbitte was Athenry’s scorer-in-chief but was well marshalled by Sarsfields’ defence while her personal duel with Tara Kenny was captivating. Indeed, one first half challenge from Kenny was lucky not to merit a card. The Galway forward opened their account on three minutes.

Athenry needed goals and came close 60 seconds later when Noreen Coen attacked from the right but was just wide of the target. However, Joe Rabbitte’s team stayed with the favourites. Sabina Rabbitte and Eimear Keane cancelled out two Siobhan McGrath scores, leaving it 0-4 to 0-3 on 12 minutes.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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