Thurles win top of the table clash with Annacarty

FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Camogie Championship Group 2 Round 4

Thurles Sarsfields 4-17

Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill 1-15

Thurles Sarsfields continued their winning run with victory over Éire Óg Annacarty in group 2 of the County Senior Camogie Championship on Saturday evening in Thurles.

The wind played a significant role in this contest, with Thurles making full use of it in the opening half. They hit 2-13 while restricting Annacarty to just six points. It took 12 minutes before Annacarty registered their first score, a 45 converted by the ever-reliable Gemma Fox.

Fox was excellent on placed balls throughout, finishing with nine points – seven from frees and two from ’45s. Further first-half scores from Leah Heffernan and Eva O’Dwyer brought Annacarty’s tally to six points in the opening half playing against a strong wind.

Thurles, meanwhile, were in fine form in attack. Caoimhe Stakelum led the charge, finishing with 3-6, including 1-5 from placed balls. Lucy Purcell struck for 1-1, while Sarah Stakelum chipped in with three points.

Aoife Dwyer, who continued her excellent form to date, hit four points from play, and the Loughnane sisters, Andrea & Laura, also got on the scoreboard to round off an impressive team effort.

With the wind at their backs in the second half, Annacarty rallied strongly and closed the gap to just three points at one stage with a goal from Eva O’Dwyer and two points from play from Danielle Ryan proving crucial.

Thurles Sarsfields struggled in the third quarter, however, a crucial penalty goal from Caoimhe Stakelum steadied the ship for Sarsfields and allowed them to push on again. At the other end, goalkeeper Siobhán Hennessy was in excellent form, pulling off several fine saves to ensure her side saw out an impressive win.

For Annacarty goalkeeper Danielle Butler also impressed while Jean Kelly proved a handful throughout the hour winning frees and setting up a number of scores.

Player of the Match: Aoife Dwyer (Thurles Sarsfields).

Thurles Sarsfields: Siobhan Hennessy; Leanna Coppinger, Niamh McCormack, Rebecca O'Mara; Emma Carey, Emer Kennedy, Robyn Fanning; Ciara Cummins, Aoife Dwyer (0-4), Andrea Loughnane (0-2), Lucy Purcell (1-1), Sarah Stakelum (0-3); Karen Kennedy, Caoimhe Stakelum (3-6, 1-0 pen, 0-5f), Laura Loughnane (0-1).

Subs: Marie Creedon for S Stakelum, Nicola Loughnane for A Loughnane, Aoife Butler for O’Mara.

Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill: Danielle Butler; Sorcha White, Ciannait Walsh, Nia Donovan; Rachel O’Dwyer, Sarah Burke, Caoimhe Brady; Orla O’Brien, Leah Heffernan (0-1); Danielle Ryan (0-2), Jean Kelly, Gemma Fox (0-9, 7f, 2 ‘45s); Lucy Heffernan, Eva O’Dwyer (1-1), Eibhlis McDonald.

Subs: Shauna Heffernan for Burke (inj), Jennifer Heffernan for Lucy Heffernan.

Referee: TP O’Sullivan (Lorrha).