A converted penalty from Siobhan McGrath midway through the second half was pivotal to securing Sarsfields progression to the All Ireland Camogie Club Championship final
St. Vincents 1-10
Sarsfields 1-11
It was a case of so near, yet so far for St Vincents in yesterdays Senior All Ireland Camogie Club Championship semi-final in a bitterly cold Birr in Offaly.
In front of a large crowd in the Offaly venue, St Vincents and Sarsfields of Galway battled it out in a highly competitive encounter that went right to the wire.
Sarsfields dominated the opening twenty five minutes of the first half and built up a six point lead. But as they have done throughout the championship this year, St Vincents fighting spirit and character hauled them back into the contest and a goal from Alison Maguire in first half injury time left just a point between the teams at the break.
St Vincents dominated the early exchanges in the second half and grabbed a two point advantage. But a rash challenge in the square midway through the second half handed Sarsfields a penalty which was dispatched by Siobhan McGrath to hand the initiative back the Galway side way.
With twelve minutes left on the clock Sarsfields led by four points, but back came St Vincents with three points from Aisling Maher who finished top scorer on the day with ten points. But the Marino side just couldn’t conjure up the equalising score and Sarsfields held on for the narrowest of wins.
It was a cruel end for St Vincents who deserved at least to bring the game to extra time but it wasn’t to be. The side from Marino though can be very proud of the season they have had this year wining both the Dublin and Leinster titles and coming so close in going all the way to the All Ireland final.
St. Vincents Scorers
14. Aisling Maher 0-10 (9f 1 ’45)
17. Alison Maguire 1-00
Sarsfields Scorers
14. Siobhan McGrath 1-06 (1-00 pen 4f)
9. Niamh McGrath 0-02 (2f)
13. Shannon Corcoran 0-01
10. Klara Donohue 0-01
8. Clodagh McGrath 0-01
St. Vincents
1. Dara Cooke
2. Ciara O’Leary
19. Anna Sullivan
4. Lora Smith
5. Ellen McGovern
6. Grainne Quinn
7. Eva Marie Elliot
8. Aine Woods
9. Danielle Smith
10. Niamh Hetherton
11. Ava Lambe
12. Claire Donnelly
17. Alison Maguire
14. Aisling Maher
15. Muireann Kelleher
St. Vincents Substitutions
22. Grace Gilroy for 19. Anna Sullivan (29)
3. Deirdre Johnstone for 9. Danielle Smith (40)
18. Róisín Drohan for 17. Alison Maguire (53)
Sarsfields
1. Laura Glynn
2. Reitseal Kelly
3. Laura Ward
4. Kate Gallagher
5. Tara Kenny
6. Maria Cooney
7. Joanne Daly
8. Clodagh McGrath
9. Niamh McGrath
10. Klara Donohue
18. Caoimhe Kelly
12. Rachel Murray
13. Shannon Corcoran
14. Siobhan McGrath
15. Cora Kenny
Sarsfields Substitutions
16. Cliona Cahalan for 15. Cora Kenny (50)
19. Ciara McGrath for 18. Caoimhe Kelly (56)
17. Aisling Dillon for 10. Klara Donohue (64)
