*Truagh/Clonlara’s Eimear Kelly. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
An All-Ireland crown just proved a leap too far for Truagh Clonlara as national kingpins Sarsfields bounced back in style from last year’s defeat to garner a fourth title since 2019 in Croke Park.
Sarsfields (Galway) 1-17
Truagh Clonlara 0-06
Venue: Croke Park, Dublin
There would be no hiding place in GAA Headquarters as the Galway champions, contesting their sixth ever final in Croker, utilised all their vast experience to see off the newcomers who had gathered serious momentum throughout their eleven match run.
Unfortunately for Truagh, their poorest performance was saved for last as a combination of nerves and the magnitude of the occasion seemed to affect the back-to-back Clare champions more than ever before.
Routine pick-ups, passes and catches were regularly spilled while their shooting was also off in contrast to a Sars side, led by the McGraths, Siobhan (1-7) and Niamh (0-6), that were almost metronomic in front of the posts to incrementally ease to a handsome 14 point win.
Indeed, the final scoreline flattered Sars but unquestionably Truagh can have no complaints either despite battling displays throughout from Roisin Begley, Eimear Kelly, Laura Foley, Louise Egan, Hannah Horgan and Sinead Ryan.
All that despite a positive start in which Aine O’Loughlin and Eimear Kelly appeared to have settled the first time finalists into their stride at 0-2 to 0-1 bye the seventh minute.
Sarsfields were the ones that seemed anxious, having g lost last year’s decider to Dicksboro but gathered pace with five unanswered points through Siobhan McGrath (2), Niamh McGrath (2) and Klara Donoghue who might have also snatched a goal only for goalkeeper Sophie Cullen to come to Truagh’s rescue at 0-6 to 0-2.
Hannah Horgan pulled back a point in the 19th minute, only for Sars to respond with the decisive score of the hour as an interpreted lineball was delivered quickly inside to Siobhan McGrath to turn her marker and fire to the net at 1-6 to 0-3.
From there, it was all about how big the half-time margin would be as a buoyant Sars raided for three of the last four points to move 1-9 to 0-4 clear by the break.
Truagh were much improved on the resumption but couldn’t make it count where it mattered most on the scoreboard as six second half wides were punished by a far more efficient Sarsfields.
Despite the deficit getting incrementally wider, Truagh never lowered their heads at any stage but the goal they craved never materialised as Sarsfields continually shut the door and stopped any threat at source.
Puck-outs were also an issue for Truagh throughout as they had no recognised ball winner to rely on while also allowing Sars to take short restarts at the other end, in the first half at least.
These are all problems and concerns that seem obvious with the benefit of hindsight but overall this will be a major learning curve both on and off the field for the Clare and Munster champions.
After all, it’s no shame to lose to such an excellent side contesting their eighth All-Ireland Final in nine years so while this defeat will inevitably be raw over the next few weeks, in time this should be seen as an invaluable experience to whet Truagh Clonlara’s appetite to return and try to redress the balance.
All photographs by Gerard O’Neill.
Scorers for Sarsfields: Siobhan McGrath 1-7 (2f); Niamh McGrath 0-6 (3f, 1’45); Klara Donohue, Cora Kenny 0-2 each; Laoise McGrath, Rachel Murray 0-1 each
Scorers for Truagh Clonlara: Aine O’Loughlin 0-2 (2f); Eimear Kelly, Hannah Horgan, Roisin Begley, Niamh Ryan 0-1 each
Sarsfields
1: Laura Glynn
6: Maria Cooney
3: Laura Ward
4: Kate Gallagher
7: Joanne Daly
5: Tara Kenny
2: Réitseal Kelly
8: Clodagh McGrath
9: Niamh McGrath
10: Klara Donohue
11: Orlaith McGrath
12: Sarah Spellman
13: Caoimhe Kelly
14: Siobhan McGrath
16: Cora Kenny
Subs
15: Rachel Murray for for C. Kenny (48)
18: Laoise McGrath for Donohue (51)
17: Ciara McGrath for C. Kelly (54)
20: Cliona Cahalan for S. McGrath (60)
19: Ciara Kyne for Ward (60)
Truagh Clonlara
1: Sophie Cullen
4: Sinead Hogg
3: Michelle Powell
2: Sinead Ryan
5: Ellen Horgan
6: Laura Foley
7: Louise Egan
8: Eimear Begley
10: Aoibhin Marren
11: Joanne Egan
13: Roisin Begley
12: Hannah Horgan
15: Aine O’Loughlin
9: Eimear Kelly
14: Becky Foley
Subs
19: Niamh Ryan for J. Egan (HT)
17: Leah Hawes for Hogg (47)
11: Egan for Marren (51, inj)
10: Marren for B. Foley (57)
22: Lauren Slater for S. Ryan (62)
18: Taylor Morris for Marren (62)
Referee: Justin Heffernan (Wexford)
