Sarsfields withstand late St Catherine's fightback to secure final spot
St Senior Pic: Semi Castle Camogie Cummins First Road Allen, At In The Larry Against A Championship Cork Final Half Catherine's Lucy Goal Sarsfields Scores
The SE Systems Cork senior camogie championship final will be a repeat of last year’s decider after Sarsfields held on for a four point victory over St Catherine’s at Castle Road on Sunday.
The second of the double-headers finished in a welter of excitement as St Catherine’s cut the gap to just one point with six minutes of regulation remaining - they were behind by ten at one stage.
However, Sarsfields produced injury time points from Ella Woods (free), Lucy Allen, and Katlyn Sheehan to book a date with holders Seandún in a fortnight.
Sarsfields got a flying start and had 1-3 posted without reply in the first six minutes - the goal finished by Lucy Allen was set up by Kate Fennessy.
It got better for the 2022 finalists when Clare Mullins bagged their second goal just after the quarter hour mark, and they went on to lead by 2-6 to 0-2.
St Catherine’s worked their way back to register 1-2, the green flag a shot from 50 metres by Orla Cotter which dipped under the crossbar.
Yet, they trailed by double-scores, 2-8 to 1-4, at the short whistle. Thankful too to goalkeeper Yvonne O’Neill who deflected a penalty from Fennessy out for a ’45.
While holding St Catherine’s to one point for most of the third quarter, the Riverstown club created and finished points from Orlaith Mullins (2) and her sister Clare Mullins to move further ahead.
Suddenly, St Catherine’s exploded into life when Niamh O’Regan fetched Ally Mulkerrins’ cross to rattle the net midway through the second-half.
Further goals arrived in the 52nd and 54th minute through O’Regan and Laura Hayes - the second green flag, although fortuitous, brought them right back into contention, 2-12 to 4-5.
Sarsfields were made to sweat for the last few minutes, but they regained their composure to see this one out.
C Mullins (1-2), L Allen (1-1), K Fennessy (0-2 frees, 0-1 ’45) and K Sheehan (0-3 each), E Woods (frees), H Herlihy and O Mullins (0-2 each).
N O’Regan (2-1), L Hayes and O Cotter (free) (1-0 each), F Neville (frees) and A Hurley (0-2 each).
M Lynch; L Dunlea, E Murphy, L Kelly; C Lynch, O McAllen, N O’Callaghan; A Fitzgerald, E Twomey; H Herlihy, K Fennessy, O Mullins; L Allen, C Mullins, K Sheehan.
E Woods for K Fennessy (46), R Roche for C Lynch (53).
Y O’Neill; C Dunning, C Motherway, M Murphy; R O’Callaghan, L Hayes (Capt), C Draper; E O’Brien, S Hurley; A O’Regan, O Cotter, T Condon; N O’Regan, F Neville, A Mulkerrins.
S M Clancy for M Murphy (19), F Sheehan for T Condon (24), L O’Donnell for A O’Regan (38).
Diarmuid Kirwan (Éire Óg).
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