2024 AIB All-Ireland Senior Club Camogie Championship Final – Sarsfields (Galway) 1-17 Truagh-Clonlara (Clare) 0-6

Sarsfields (Galway) defeated Truagh-Clonlara (Clare) by 1-17 to 0-6 in the AIB All-Ireland Senior Club Camogie Championship Final on Sunday December 15th at Croke Park.

Majestic McGraths propel Sarsfields to fourth title
By Daragh Ó Conchúir, at Croke Park

Sarsfields (Galway) 1-17 Truagh/Clonlara (Clare) 0-6

Siobhán McGrath broke the game wide open and her sister Niamh provided the flourishes with some stupendous shooting, as Sarsfields, managed by their father Michael, secured a fourth AIB All-Ireland club senior camogie title.

It was the Bullaun/New Inn side’s eighth final appearance in nine campaigns and it showed as they always held the whip hand, apart perhaps from the very early exchanges.

Niamh missed the final defeat to Dicksboro 12 months, as she was expecting her now ten-month-old son Ruadhán, but it was like she had never been away as she lorded the midfield exchanges alongside another sibling Clodagh, and treated us to an outstanding display of shooting into the bargain.

Skipper Laura Ward, Maria Cooney and Klara Donohue were others to stand out but in truth Sarsfields were on a different plane to Truagh/Clonlara, gutsy though they were to the final whistle.

They seemed nervous early on and too often failed to gather possession cleanly. They more than held their own in the physical exchanges but operated more on an individual basis, with few supporting runners to the player in possession and a reluctance to use them if they did materialise.

In contrast, Sarsfields were slick, with Siobhán McGrath turning Sinéad Ryan with her first two possessions and after scoring three points in jig time, two inside 60 seconds, it was time for Bob Caulfield to move Michelle Powell to act as shadow.

That made no difference, however, as the dynamic full-forward had a goal in 21st minute to put real daylight between the teams.
This was in spite of Truagh/Clonlara having the lead twice early on, first through a pointed free by their chief scoregetter Áine O’Loughlin, and then via Eimear Kelly, after McGrath had equalised.

Niamh McGrath levelled quickly once more from a placed ball before her Siobhán trebled her tally in lightning fashion, a lovely scooped effort to avoid being hooked the highlight.

The lively Klara Donohue got on the mark and then had a shot saved by Sophie Cullen but Niamh McGrath converted the 45 and Sarsfields were pulling away.

A lovely point by Hannah Horgan was a much needed score for the Clare crew but in the blink of an eye, Siobhán McGrath was clear of the cover and adding to her phenomenal goal scoring record in All-Irelands for club and county.

Points from Cora Kenny, a glorious effort by Niamh McGrath from 75m and a Siobhán free ensued, with Áine O’Loughlin’s converted free the only response and it was 1-9 to 0-4 at the change of ends.

Michael McGrath’s champions shut down the opposition professionally in the second half, keeping things tight and not attempting too much in the way of flash the other way.

This was about putting last year’s disappointment to bed and they made no mistake.

The imperious Niamh McGrath added three points to her tally, while Donohue, Kenny, Laoise McGrath and Rachel Murray. Róisín Begley and Niamh Ryan split the posts for the opposition.

With the introduction of Laoise and Ciara McGrath, here were six siblings on the pitch at one stage, before Siobhán was withdrawn late on.

This was all about a panel however, and an unquenchable spirit among the girls in green. And there is no reason to believe that they are finished yet.

SCORERS FOR SARSFIELDS: S McGrath 1-5(0-2fs); N McGrath 0-6(3fs, 1 45); C Kenny, K Donohue 0-2 each; R Murray, L McGrath 0-1 each

SCORERS FOR TRUAGH/CLONLARA: A O’Loughlin 0-2(fs); E Kelly, H Horgan, R Begley, N Ryan 0-1 each

SARSFIELDS: L Glynn, R Kelly, L Ward, K Gallagher, T Kenny, M Cooney, J Daly, Clodagh McGrath, N McGrath, K Donohue, O McGrath, S Spellman, C Kelly, S McGrath, C Kenny.
Subs: R Murray for C Kenny (49), L McGrath for Donohue (51), Ciara McGrath for C Kelly (54), C Kyne for Ward (60), C Cahalan for S McGrath (60)

TRUAGH/CLONLARA: S Cullen, S Ryan, M Powell, S Hogg, E Horgan, L Foley, L Egan, E Begley, E Kelly, A Marren, J Egan, H Horgan, R Begley, R Foley, A O’Loughlin.
Subs: N Ryan for J Egan (33), L Hawes for Hogg (48), J Egan for Marren blood (51-57), J Egan for R Foley (57), L Slater for Ryan (60+3), T Morris for Marren (60+3)

Referee: Justin Heffernan (Wexford)

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15
AIB ALL-IRELAND SENIOR CLUB CAMOGIE FINAL
Sarsfields (Galway) v Truagh-Clonlara (Clare), 4.15pm, Croke Park
Referee: Justin Heffernan (Wexford)
Live on RTÉ2

The messaging from the Sarsfields camp has been ultra-consistent since their breakthrough as a national force, reaching their first AIB All-Ireland final in 2017. They were a young, callow side then, having only broken through in Galway.

They were forced to learn some hard lessons, losing the following year’s final in a repeat battle with Slaughtneil, who then ended their interest in the subsequent season’s semi-final.

The haven’t missed a decider since, finally laying their Robert Emmetts bogey in 2020 and now have three triumphs on their roll of honour, delivering twice in 2022, the latter of which was the first calendar year campaign.

It says a lot for them that they are back again, having fallen short to Kilkenny crew Dicksboro 12 months ago. Consistent success has been known to take the edge off the most ruthless, hard-working groups but Michael McGrath and his gang remain as hungry as ever. They have said, time and again, that they know such golden periods do not last forever and so they are intent on farming this one for as much as they can before their run ends

The return of Niamh McGrath to the fold is a huge boost of course, the eldest of the manager’s talented progeny having missed out last year as she was expecting a baby.

The former club player of the year and All-Ireland-winning captain hasn’t missed a beat it seems, since coming back and remains hugely influential, along with younger siblings Siobhán, Clodagh and Orlaith, as well as Maria Cooney, Tara Kenny and Caoimhe Kelly among a strong squad of contributors.

They beat St Thomas’ by nine points to secure a sixth consecutive county championship at the end of October but were made to call on their undisputed character in the All-Ireland semi-final by Loughgiel Shamrocks, in a repeat of the 2022 final.

The Antrim outfit pushed Sars all the way on that occasion and three goals had the westerners treading water once more but a fortunate major from Niamh McGrath was the hop o of the ball they needed and there was a sense of inevitability about the verdict from there as they came out the right side of a semi-final by a one-point margin for an incredible fifth time. Caoimhe Kelly’s point at the clock ticked into injury time was the first occasion they hit the front.

Having faced opponents from Derry, Wexford, Antrim and Kilkenny in previous deciders, Sarsfields are now crossing swords with a team from Clare. The Banner have never been represented in a senior club final before but Truagh-Clonlara have left a trail of high-class victims in their wake and represent a serious threat to the Galwegians bagging a fourth crown.

After confirming county supremacy for the second year in a row with a four-point defeat of Inagh-Kilnamona, the week before Sarsfields emerged from the neighbouring bailiwick, Bob Caulfield’s charges continued to improve, clearly benefiting from their provincial championship experience of last season.

Áine O’Loughlin has carried her Clare form into club colours in the autumn and winter, and with Laura Foley and Becky Foley, Eimear Kelly and Leah Hawes also influential, they progressed to a Munster Final, where they beat Waterford champions Gailltír in a dramatic 45s shootout.

The darkness descended as was Róisín Begley provided the winning strike, having missed an earlier attempt. After they had finished extra time on 4-12 to 3-15, the 45s ended 9-8 in Truagh-Clonara’s favour. O’Loughlin scored 2-6 and Kelly 2-4 for the Banner representatives, who were securing a first ever Munster title.

The All-Ireland semi-final was a very different affair, hard-fought but without any goals. Truagh-Clonlara were three points behind St Vincents at the interval but had the elements in their favour after the resumption. They held the Dubliners to two points after the restart, and finished strongly with points from O’Loughlin, Becky Foley and Aoibhinn Marren to advance by two.

Coach Ryan Morris revealed afterwards that he would have to postpone his honeymoon to be at Croke Park, giving an indication of what is at stake. Sarsfields will be desperate to get their hands back on the Bill and Agnes Carroll Cup but Truagh-Clonlara have a chance of making history for club and county. It seems like a recipe for a corker.