Thurles make light work of Moneygall

CAMOGIE: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Championship Quarter Final

Thurles Sarsfields 3-23

Moneygall 2-4

Report: Joe Scully in Thurles

A dominant display by Thurles Sarsfields saw them qualify for a third straight Tipperary Senior Camogie Championship semi-final after beating Moneygall by 22 points in this quarter final on Saturday, a game where the result was never really in doubt.

The most impressive aspect of the win for Sarsfields was it was a complete team performance with every player playing a big part in the victory with eight different scorers.

Moneygall, whose year comes to a disappointing end, can be very proud of their effort throughout the year, coming up from intermediate.

Despite suffering such a disappointing defeat on Saturday they never gave in at any stage and fought right to the end.

However, Thurles sent out a strong message to the remaining three teams in the championship, that they will take some stopping in a quest for a first ever senior title.

Caoimhe Stakelum opened the scoring for the home side in the third minute finishing at the end of a fine team move.

A minute later and Aoife Dwyer extended the lead, and from the resultant puckout Sarsfields put the pressure on, turned the ball over and resulted in Stakelum adding her second point.

The same thing happened with the next puckout with Thurles once again forcing the turnover, and this time it was Andrea Loughnane who pointed.

Five minutes later, Karen Kennedy took a quick free and from distance which found its way over the black spot.

Stakelum added another two minutes later, before Kennedy added another following a good move.

Loughnane had her second score with a fine finish to leave it 0-8 to no score in the 15th minute.

Stakelum added another with a 45, then it was Loughnane with an effort from out by the sideline.

Stakelum added a free, before Thurles were in for their first goal in the 25th minute when Laura Loughnane finished to the net following another great team move.

Karen Kennedy had another point in the 28th minute and then it was Lucy Purcell with the next score from a tight angle, before Moneygall finally opened their account with the final score of the half through a Caitlyn Treacy free, as Thurles led 1-14 to 0-1 at the break.

It was the away side who opened the scoring at the start of the second half when Mairead Teehan added another free in the second minute.

Thurles could have been forgiving for taking their foot off the gas and while the tempo did drop a little, they still brought a savage intensity and hit four in a row with Aoife Dwyer hitting two, with a Caoimhe Stakelum free and a Sarah Stakelum effort in-between.

Moneygall found a little bit of joy in the 42nd minute when Thurles failed to clear and Mairead Teehan, hit a ground shot to the back of the net, followed shortly after by a Caitlyn Treacy free.

Thurles then hit another three points-in-a-row through Andrea Loughnane, sub Maria Creedon and Karen Kennedy.

A Mairead Teehan free in the 50th minute, which was added to by a goal from the same player after a short Thurles puckout was turned over by the North outfit, and Teehan finished with a smart finish, which was to be their last score of the game.

Once again, Thurles turned on the afterburners with Caoimhe Stakelum adding a free, before Laura Loughnane pointed following a superb catch low down and a great finish.

In the 57th minute, a long ball in from Karen Kennedy somehow found its way into the back of the net much to the disappointment of sub keeper Roisin Maher.

Kennedy found the back of the net again in the last minute, this time it was a superb goal with Caoimhe Stakelum picking out the Tipp senior captain with a sideline cut, who then turned her marker and ran at goal before hitting an unstoppable shot to the net for the final score of the game.

Thurles now face Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams in the semi-final and on this form look favourites for the championship.

Player of the Match: Karen Kennedy (Thurles Sarsfields).

Thurles Sarsfields: Siobhan Hennessy (6); Leanna Coppinger (8), Niamh McCormack (7), Rebecca O’Mara (7); Emma Carey (8), Emer Kennedy (7), Robyn Fanning (7); Ciara Cummins (7), Aoife Dwyer (0-3, 8); Andrea Loughnane (0-4, 9), Lucy Purcell (0-1, 7), Sarah Stakelum (0-1, 7); Karen Kennedy (2-4, 9), Caoimhe Stakelum (0-7, 4f, 8), Laura Loughnane (1-1, 7).

Subs: Marie Creedon (0-1, 7) for S Stakelum (43); Kate Stakelum (6) for Purcell (49); Nicola Loughnane (6) for A Loughnane (50); Aoife Butler (NR) for O’Mara (56); Anna Derby (NR) for Dwyer.

Moneygall: Eimear Ryan (6); Julie Kelly (6), Stephanie Kenny (6), Alice Maher (6); Mary Teehan (7), Caithlyn Treacy (0-2f, 7), Katie Hayes (6); Edwina King (6), Mary Ryan (7); Mairead Teehan (2-2, 0-2f, 8), Amy Ryan (6), Bronagh Kenneally (6); Orlaith Treacy (6), Orlaith Cleary (6), Emma Costello (6).

Subs: Maria Maher for M Ryan (8-16 blood); Roisin Maher (6) for E Ryan (HT inj); Emily White (6) for A Ryan (43); Katelyn Deane (6) for Cleary (45); Maria Maher (6) for A Maher (50).

Referee: Mike Ryan (Nenagh Eire Og).