Sars edged out in Munster classic
CAMOGIE: AIB Munster Senior Championship Semi-Final
De La Salle 2-21
Thurles Sarsfields 3-16
Report: Thomas Keane at De La Salle G.A.A. Grounds, Waterford
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Caoimhe Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields).
SCORERS – De La Salle: Maggie Gostl 2-4; Beth Carton 0-10 (7 frees); Abby Flynn 0-5; Abbie Mullane 0-2.
Thurles Sarsfields: Caoimhe Stakelum 0-13 (7 frees; 1 ‘45); Laura Loughnane 2-2; Karen Kennedy 1-1.
Thurles Sarsfields involvement in their inaugural Munster Senior Club Camogie Championship campaign came to an end after a very entertaining battle at the De La Salle Grounds at Gracedieu on Saturday where the home side ran out winners with two points to spare.
In the first half, the new Tipperary champions were the better of the sides playing with the wind at their backs, where they looked very comfortable, but allowed the home side to net a late goal and were unlucky not to have added a second as Sars turned around with a 1-11 to 1-6 advantage on the board.
It was Thurles that were first on the board when the brilliant Caoimhe Stakelum pointed after 26 seconds and it was quickly followed up with a point from Karen Kennedy.
Maggie Gostl hit her sides first score on four minutes, but within seconds the visitors struck for the game’s first goal when Karen Kennedy found Laura Loughnane who beat the advancing Brianna O’Regan to give her side a 1-2 to 0-1 advantage.
De La Salle hit back with points from Beth Carton and a brace by Abby Flynn leaving one between the sides with nine minutes played. Sars hit a purple patch over the next ten minutes as Stakelum hit a brace of scores with Laura Loughnane finding the range in between, before Brianna O’Regan was called upon saving from Karen Kennedy on eighteen minutes. Points from Stakelum and Loughnane followed to give Sars a 1-7 to 0-4 lead on 22 minutes.
Beth Carton ended a thirteen-minute spell without a score for her side when she put over a free on 24 minutes, but a brace from Stakelum saw Sars go seven in front with four minutes of the half remaining.
The home side would end the half the strongly. Beth Carton played a ball in to Abby Flynn who found Maggie Gostl who finished to the net, and was quickly followed with a point from Flynn cutting the lead Sars lead to four.
A brace from Caoimhe Stakelum in added time helped the Tipperary champions to a 1-11 to 1-6 lead at the break, but De La Salle were unlucky not to be closer as they had a great chance for a second goal when following an attack, Maggie Gostl played the ball across the face of the Sar’s goal just out of the reach of Taylor Healy.
Abby Flynn opened the scoring in the second half which was quickly wiped out with an effort from Caoimhe Stakelum at the other end. Beth Carton put over a brace of scores to leave three between the sides. Caoimhe Stakelum hit the post with a free for the visitors before the danger was cleared with the ball quickly worked to Beth Carton in the middle of the field. She spotted Abby Flynn in space in front of goal with the perfect pass. She in turn found Maggie Gostl who beat the advancing keeper to level matters.
Caoimhe Stakelum edged her side back in front only for Beth Carton to level from a free, and the home side took the lead for the first time on 40 minutes when Abbie Mullane fired over from play.
A point from Beth Carton edged De La Salle two in front, but a magnificent point, the score of the game followed for Caoimhe Stakelum who fired over from a tight angle close to the sideline. She followed up with a brace to give her side a 1-16 to 2-12 lead on 49 minutes, with Beth Carton firing over from a free seconds later.
Sars struck for a second goal seven minutes from time. Emma Kennedy played a long ball down the sideline where Caoimhe Stakelum raced out to meet on the 45-metre line. She took on the defence flicking to Laura Loughnane who finished to the net giving her side a three-point advantage.
De La Salle’s response was magnificent. Beth Carton, Abby Mullane and Abby Flynn all found the range from play. Beth Carton followed up with a brace of frees with Maggie Gostl pointing in between.
A brace from Maggie Gostl deep in stoppage time helped De La Salle go 2-21 to 2-16 in front, but credit the visitors, they never gave up, and they were rewarded with a late consolation goal when Lucy Purcell landed a free in the danger zone. Emma Carey collected the ball and while she appeared to throw the ball over the heads of the De La Salle defenders, picking out Karen Kennedy who played the whistle or lack there-of and whipped to the net. However, time ran out for Thurles as their historic campaign came to an end.
TEAMS - De La Salle: Brianna O’Regan (8); Shayla Condon (7), Alex Healy (7), Megan O’Connor (7); Taylor Healy (7); Alannah McNulty (7), Emma Kennedy (7); Keeley Corbett Barry (8), Leah Browne (7); Courtney Healy (7), Beth Carton (8), Holly Ryan (7); Abbie Mullane (7), Abby Flynn (8), Maggie Gostl (8).
Subs: Isabel Boland (6) for Browne (51); Niamh Murphy (6) for T Healy (51)
Thurles Sarsfields: Siobhán Hennessy (7); Leanna Coppinger (7), Niamh McCormack (7), Rebecca O’Mara (7); Emma Carey (7), Emer Kennedy (7), Marie Creedon (7); Ciara Cummins (7), Aoife Dwyer (7); Andrea Loughnane (7), Lucy Purcell (7), Sarah Stakelum (7); Karen Kennedy (8), Caoimhe Stakelum (9), Laura Loughnane (8).
Subs: Aoife Butler (6) for O’Mara (43); Róisín Corbett (6) for S Stakelum (57); Anna Derby (6) for Coppinger (60).
Referee: Donnacha O’Callaghan (Limerick).