Legend Fogarty helps Cashel to draw

CAMOGIE: FBD Insurance County Senior Championship Group 1

Thurles Sarsfields 0-11

Cashel King Cormacs 1-8

Thurles Sarsfields and Cashel King Cormacs shared the spoils in the opening round of the County Senior Camogie Championship in Thurles on Saturday.

A late free from Karin Blair earned a draw for Cashel but both teams had a number of chances to claim the win but neither side could get the crucial winning score and grab all three points on offer.

Thurles Sarsfields began with the aid of a strong breeze and led after 0-2 to no score after seven minutes thanks to two Aoife Dwyer frees. By the tenth minute the sides were level with Cashel’s best player Karin Blair splitting the posts from a free and play.

Thurles were on top at this stage with Emma Carey and Karen Kennedy dominating in the half backline while up front Aoife Dwyer was a constant threat. Two more pointed frees from Dwyer and Karen Kennedy stretched Thurles’s lead before the returning former Tipperary All-Ireland winner Philly Fogarty broke onto a ball along the side-line and fired over a fine point for Cashel.

Thurles though were settling more and more into the game and enjoyed a great spell before half time with three unanswered points. The fit again Karen Kennedy landed the first, followed by Andrea Loughnane and then Sarah Stakelum who showed lovely movement to get out in front of her marker and gather possession from Andrea Loughnane delivery. At half time Sars held a deserved three-point advantage, 0-7 to 0-4.

The game really sprung to life in the second half. Firstly, Lucy Purcell pointed for Thurles before Philly Fogarty spotted half a chance and fired home a cracking goal from distance to give Cashel a real boost and bring the gap back to a single point, 0-8 to 1-4.

The Thurles response was very good as Aoife Dwyer and Andrea Loughnane (free) both pointed to put three between the sides again on forty minutes.

Cashel though seemed to find another gear and with Lilly Fahie, Amy Crosse and Karin Blair started getting on more and more ball and feeding the lively Anna Fahie inside who was fouled on a number of occasions. Karin Blair who put in a great shift in midfield scored a tremendous point from play in between two frees to level the game and it looked like the game maybe slipping away from Thurles.

Credit to the home side, they too sensed this and upped their workrate. Karen Kennedy making a brilliant turnover at one stage and then storming forward on another occasion to set Aoife Dwyer up with a point from play.

Two minutes later, it was all square once again as Karin Blair struck her seventh point and the games’ final score as this highly entertaining contest came to what was its fairest conclusion.

It was great to see Karen Kennedy back on the field for Thurles after a long-term injury which kept her out of Tipperary action this year as she reminded everone what a brilliant player she is with a classy display at centre back.

At the other end although her possessions were few Philly Fogarty also displayed the fabulous skill that made her such a hugely influential player for both Tipperary and Cashel in the early 2000’s with a goal and a point from play. When moved into full forward in the second half she had a great battle with Niamh McCormack who didn’t give her an inch.

This was a good first outing from both teams who had many younger players playing, along with players just back from J1s and injuries. Both managements will have noted plenty of areas for improvement too and one could expect both sides to get stronger as the championship progresses.

Player of the Match: Philly Fogarty (Cashel King Cormacs)

Thurles Sarsfields: Katie McCormack, Aoife Butler, Niamh McCormack, Rebecca O’Meara, Aisling Dwyer, Karen Kennedy (0-2, 1f), Emma Carey, Ciara Cummins, Laura Loughnane, Nicola Loughnane, Aoife Dwyer (0-5, 4f), Lucy Purcell (0-1), Sarah Stakelum (0-1), Andrea Loughnane (0-2, 1f), Emer Kennedy.

Cashel King Cormacs: Aoife O’Brien, Ella O’Dwyer, Ellie Butler, Laura Connolly, Katelyn Downey, Lily Fahie, Amy Crosse, Nicole Shelly, Karin Blair (0-7, 5f), Grace Moloney, Aine O’Dwyer, Anna Fahie, Philly Fogarty (1-1), Ciara Dwan, Aideen Bergin,

Subs: Sorcha Ryan for Shelly (inj), Nicole Shelly for Dwan (HT).

Referee: Kieran Slattery (Knockavilla Kickhams).