Lough Rea Hotel & Spa Senior Camogie Quarter-Final – Friday, 19th October 2018
Sarsfields 3-23 Cappataggle 0-7
Darren Kelly in Duggan Park
Like all true champions, Sarsfields commenced the knock out series with a breathtaking performance as they brushed aside the Cappataggle challenge before a massive rematch with Mullagh on Monday (29th October).
Goals from Cora Kenny, Orlaith and Siobhan McGrath ensured the New Inn/Bullaun outfit qualified for the semi-finals and kept their three-in-a-row ambitions intact.
Captain Maria Cooney went off with an injury at half-time but is expected to be available against Mullagh. And she contributed three points before her departure.
Daughter of Joe, niece of Jimmy and sister of Joseph, Maria Cooney is creating her own path as @SarsfieldsCC bid to go one step further in a repeat of last year's @AIB_GAA @OfficialCamogie All-Ireland Senior Club Camogie Final https://t.co/mjI5wxxsCi
— Daragh Ó Conchúir (@RebelDevil71) March 17, 2018
“We just went out there today,” said Cooney afterwards. “We knew Cappy would be giving it everything and for us, we knew every team was going to be throwing everything at us. We just went out to try to get the forwards going.
“I think today we did. We racked up a good score. I think we’d 3-23 in the end. Our forwards are getting to play together. We’re linking up better. Yeah, we’re delighted with the performance.
“A lot of people are questioning us. And as I said before, the Galway championship camogie is, just all the teams are tit-for-that. There’s nothing between anybody and we’re all even enough. You think where are we going to pull it out off?
“Yeah, we always push on and take our scores. We’re just happy. We’re all getting used to playing together properly and everything and we’re linking up well again.
The goals were critical for Sarsfields after Cappataggle threatened early and Cooney was delighted for three attacking team mates.
“In fairness to Cora,” said the 2013 All-Ireland winner. “It was a great score. She took it really well. It was a great goal! Cappy really drove at us in the first couple of minutes. They had those two wides.
“Maybe if they had gotten those two scores, we wouldn’t really know if they’d started with the two scores on top of us. But I think we responded well. We got the two scores. We got 1-1 and it was a great goal by Cora.
“Absolutely superb (Orlaith McGrath’s goal). So well taken! It was brilliant! Orlaith’s flying it now. Same as Siobhan so we’re delighted. They’re just really, really going well and it was a super score.
And her own three first half points?
“Thank God they went over,” laughed Cooney who also allayed any fears about her injury. “It’ll be grand. Nothing to worry about. It’ll be fine.
“Bank Holiday Monday now. As I said, everybody is so close now, tit-for-tat. There’s nothing between us.”
Sarsfields meet Mullagh in the 2018 Lough Rea Hotel & Spa Senior Camogie Semi-Final on Monday, 29th October. Throw-in at St. Brendan’s Park, Loughrea is 3pm.
