Cashel upset Thurles to eliminate Moneygall
CAMOGIE: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Championship Group 1 Round 5
Cashel King Cormacs 1-14
Thurles Sarsfields 1-13
Cashel King Cormacs inflicted a first defeat on reigning county senior camogie champions Thurles Sarsfields with a late smash-and-grab victory, which confirmed their place in the knockout stages in dramatic fashion in Rosegreen on Friday evening.
This was a ding-dong battle throughout, physical and fiercely contested, with Cashel’s greater energy and liveliness giving them the upper hand for long periods. Yet, for all their good work, it looked as though the experience and know-how of the champions would ultimately prove decisive.
Minus the services of county star Karen Kennedy, Sarsfields had struggled to hit top gear for much of the contest, but when the opportunity presented itself late on, they appeared to have finally broken Cashel’s resistance.
Trailing 0-11 to 0-10 after 48 minutes, Sarsfields suddenly clicked into gear and reeled off 1-3 without reply. Their goal - scored by Maria Ralph - arrived in the 58th minute, while Caoimhe Stakelum also made important contributions from placed balls as the champions surged into a 1-13 to 0-11 lead.
Having largely been outplayed, Sarsfields suddenly had one foot across the finishing line. But Cashel simply refused to accept defeat which would have seen them eliminated from the championship.
Anna Fahie, who was excellent from placed balls and open play throughout, started the revival before Aine O’Dwyer followed with another point on the stroke of the 60th minute, reducing the deficit to three.
Then came an extraordinary injury-time finish. Young Aisling Cully was picked out with a good delivery inside and, despite initially being halted by a defensive tackle, managed to regain her footing as goalkeeper Siobhan Hennessy advanced. Cully flicked the ball goalwards and, although several Sarsfields defenders converged near the line, the ball broke back into her path. Showing tremendous composure amid the chaos, she gathered again and forced the ball into the net to level the game.
A draw would not have have been enough to send Cashel through so they went searching for more. Anna Fahie brilliantly dug possession out from a throw-in around midfield before delivering towards Cully. The youngster produced an excellent first touch and moved the ball into the path of substitute Eve Moloney, who surged forward before calmly firing over what proved to be the winning score.
It sparked jubilant scenes among the Cashel contingent after a victory which showcased the character and never-say-die attitude within their ranks.
The achievement was made even more impressive by the absence of county star Karin Blair, although Sarsfields were also without Tipperary stalwart Karen Kennedy.
The result had little bearing on Sarsfields’ championship progression, but the champions will be disappointed with the manner of the performance and defeat heading into the knockout stages.
For Cashel, however, this was a huge statement and a dramatic way to seal their own place in the quarter finals.
Player of the Match: Aisling Cully (Cashel King Cormacs)
Cashel King Cormacs: Aoife O’Brien (6); Ella O’Dwyer (7), Joanne Crosse (7), Meabh Elle Ryan (7); Lisa Blair (7), Lily Fahie (7), Katelyn Downey (7); Anna Fahie (0-9, 8f, 8), Eadaoin Bonnar (6); Grace Moloney (0-2, 7), Rebecca Delahunty (6), Aine O’Dwyer (0-1, 6); Aisling Cully (1-0, 7), Emma Bonnar (0-1, 6), Anna O’Brien (6).
Sub: Eve Moloney (6) for Eadaoin Bonnar (42).
Thurles Sarsfields: Siobhan Hennessy (6); Leanna Coppinger (7), Niamh McCormack (7), Robyn Fanning (6); Ciara Cummins (7), Emer Kennedy (7), Emma Carey (7); Roisin McCann (6), Aoife Dwyer (0-1, 7); Andrea Loughnane (6), Sarah Stakelum (0-2, 7), Marie Creedon (6); Laura Loughnane (6), Caoimhe Stakelum (0-10, 9f, 7), Lucy Purcell (6).
Sub: Maria Ralph (1-0, 7) for Cummins (HT).
Referee: Joe Kearney (Clonoulty/Rossmore).