Huge home support not enough to fuel Truagh-Clonlara in maiden Munster outing

TRUAGH-CLONLARA 1-7
SARSFIELDS 1-11
MUNSTER SENIOR CAMOGIE CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

After winning their maiden County title Truagh-Clonlara took their first steps into the prime time that is Munster Senior club championship when entertaining Cork Champions Sarsfields, writes Derek Dormer.

However despite a tremendous battling display the experience Sarsfields garnered from last year’s Munster campaign certainly told when the Cork club hit the last three points from the 59th minute onwards. Over the sixty plus minutes there was very little to separate the teams but in the last ten Championship minutes fatigue seemed to be a deciding factor as the Clare representatives visibly tired.

Played in Clonlara in front of a huge crowd the home side hit the ground running. First to every ball they completely dominated proceedings early and raced into a three point lead. Hannah Horgan opened their account in the sixth minute with a sweet strike off her left hand side from out near the touchline. This was quickly followed by a fine Róisín Begley point and a converted Laura Foley free.

The recently crowned Cork Champions settled though when Orlaith Mullins fired over a touchline beauty in the tenth minute. Player of the match Kate Fenessy then landed the next three scores with two coming from placed balls. At this stage it was tense and tight. Star forward Aíne O’Loughlin was being kept very quiet but such is her goal scoring ability she only needs one opportunity and it duly arrived in the 25th minute.

Gathering possession just inside the 21 O’Loughlin shrugged off several challenges before firing low into the bottom corner. If there was a roof in Clonlara it would have been lifted off with the venue erupting into insane life. Unfortunately the joy was shortlived as just before the interval corner forward Claire Mullins latched onto a breaking ball before rifling low to the net. At the interval the Cork side led by the bare minimum 1-4 to 1-3.

Upon the resumption of play a sensational flick on the sliotar in flight by O’Loughlin leveled the contest. The teams then traded scores through free takers Fenessy and Foley and extra time looked a distinct possibility entering the last ten minutes. However once Fenessy made it a two point game in the 59th minute there was only ever going to be one winner as Sarsfields landed a couple of more white flags in additional time.

Overall a highly entertaining contest with the home side giving their all. However fatigue and inexperience ar this level ultimately proved the difference.

Best for the winners were Kate Fenessy, Lucy Allen and Clíona Lynch while the home side who battled heroically had solid performances from Michelle Caulfield, Laura Foley, Sinead Hogg and Áine O’Loughlin.

Scorers for Truagh-Clonlara: Aine O’Loughlin 1-2, Laura Foley 0-3 (3f), Róisín Begley 0-1

Scorers for Sarsfields: Kate Fenessy 0-8 (5f), Claire Mullins 1-0, Orlaith Mullins, Lucy Allen, Katlyn Sheehan 0-1 each

TRUAGH-CLONLARA

1 Sophie Cullen

2 Sinead Ryan

3 Róisín Powell

4 Sinead Hogg

5 Ellen Horgan

6 Michelle Caulfield

7 Louise Egan

8 Laura Foley

9 Niamh Powell