Slick Sarsfields stroll to fifth successive title in fine style

Oranmore-Maree 0-7

By Eanna O’Reilly at Duggan Park

SARSFIELDS completed a five in a row of county senior camogie titles in Ballinasloe on Sunday as they comprehensively overcame Oranmore-Maree with a 12-point victory. The All-Ireland club champions were the far superior team, and on the evidence of this county final, they have increased the gap between themselves and the chasing pack.

Michael ‘Hopper’ McGrath’s side were far too sharp, too strong, and possessed too much guile for a disappointing Oranmore-Maree side, who never posed a major threat to the champions during this game.

Their cause wasn’t helped by the fact that key player Niamh Hanniffy was carrying an injury into the final and didn’t have her usual influence on proceedings as a result. Hanniffy played with a heavily strapped left knee and was visibly laboured in her running throughout the match.

Oranmore-Maree needed to raise their game to new heights, particularly with Hanniffy not at 100%. Sarsfields, however, were in no mood to let them. The defending champions made a strong stat to the game and led by 1-4 to 0-2 after 15 minutes.

Caoimhe Kelly opened the scoring in the first minute, before Joanne Daly fired over an excellent score from the left wing. Ailish O’Reilly opened Oranmore-Maree’s account with a free at the other end, but Sarsfields replied with 1-2.

Siobhán McGrath pointed a free and a ’45 before she had a major hand in the game’s first goal. The full forward made a great run before her pass set up Shannon Corcoran, who finished impressively with a low shot to the net.

Oranmore-Maree responded well to conceding the first goal and tallied three consecutive points. O’Reilly converted her second free, before Aisling Finn sent over an excellent point from the sideline, after a good pass from Róisín Black. A minute later, a clearance from Niamh Black was picked up by Eimear O’Donovan, who fired over to make it 1-4 to 0-4.

Pictured: Sarsfields' Caoimhe Kelly in a race for possession with Oranmore-Maree's Freya Linnane during Sunday's County Senior A Camogie Final at Duggan Park. Photos: Don Soules.