Silvermines brought down to earth by Sars

CAMOGIE: FBD Insurance County Senior Championship Group 1

Silvermines 1-14

Thurles Sarsfields 2-18

Report: Joe Scully in Dolla

Thurles Sarsfields opened their County Senior Camogie Championship group 1 campaign with a comprehensive seven-point victory over Silvermines on Sunday afternoon.

Despite finishing the game with fourteen players after full-back Emer Kennedy was shown a second yellow late on, Thurles were full value for their win, and only for some excellent keeping from Silvermines keeper Aishling Carey and being very wasteful in possession in attack at key times the margin could have been a lot bigger come the final whistle.

Thurles led from the second minute and would never relinquish their lead throughout.

Perhaps, the most impressive facet of their victory, is that of their total of 2-18, 2-15 came from play, as they played some wonderful camogie throughout the hour and hit some superb scores with Laura Loughnane, Karen Kennedy, Lucy Purcell, Andrea Loughnane and Caoimhe Stakelum to the fore.

For Silvermines, who are now one win and one defeat from their opening two games, gave it their all throughout and never gave in. For large periods they were in the game but could never get the gap below three points, and of their total of 1-14, only 1-5 came from play, before the away side pulled away in the last ten minutes. Best for Silvermines were Aishling Carey, Ciara Grace, Ellen Cunneen, Sarah Madden, and Laura Cunneen.

Thurles were first off the mark through Nicola Loughnane with a point from play.

The North side would pull level in the fifth minute but had a great chance to goal when they were awarded a penalty, but goalkeeper Aishling Carey could only manage to point after making the long trip forward.

The visitors would then open a five-point lead by scoring 1-2 unanswered with points from play by Lucy Purcell and Caoimhe Stakelum, before Andrea Loughnane goaled in the twelfth minute, a tap-in from a few yards out after Ashling Carey had batted a long ball straight into her path.

Loughnane would then follow up a minute later with a point from play and had another chance a minute later to find the back of the net, but her shot was blocked by a defender.

Ellen Cunneen would get the next two scores from frees to close the gap and keep the home-side in contention.

Caoimhe Stakelum and Cunneen would trade points before Karen Kennedy was next on the scoresheet with two points from play, either side of two points from play for the ‘Mines by Sarah Madden. The final two scores of the half fell to Thurles from Sarah Stakelum and Lucy Purcell from play to leave the score 1-9 to 0-6 at the break.

The teams would match each other stride for stride early in the second half with Thurles first off the mark through Lucy Purcell followed up by a free from Ellen Cunneen. Laura Cunneen and Purcell would then trade scores before Caoimhe Stakelum then added another for Thurles, with Elaine Murphy responding for Silvermines.

Sarah Stakelum then pointed for Thurles when the games pivotal moment came when Silvermines failed to clear the ball and Karen Kennedy goaled to put Thurles 2-13 to 0-9 ahead.

They would stretch their lead even further through a Caoimhe Stakelum point, with Ellen Cunneen responding for Silvermines.

Andrea Loughnane had Thurles’s lead out even further again 48th minute.

A minute later, Silvermines gave themselves a lifeline of sorts when Elaine Murphy goaled after doubling on a Cunneen free and gave Thurles keeper Katie McCormack no chance.

Thurles responded magnificently and got the next two scores through Karen Kennedy and Lucy Purcell. Sarah Madden for Silvermines and Karen Kennedy then traded points. Ellen Cunneen would then hit the final three scores two frees and a 45, as Thurles ran out seven points winners.

Player of the Match: Laura Loughnane (Thurles Sarsfields).

Silvermines: Aishling Carey (0-1 pen, 7); Rachel Kennedy (6), Nessa Murphy (6), Ciara Grace (8); Anna Stapleton (6), Brid Quinn (7), Eimear Murphy (6); Ciara Ryan (7), Katie Murphy (6); Ellen Cunneen (0-8f, 8), Nicola Butler (6), Aoife Ryan (6), Elaine Murphy (7) (1-1), Sarah Madden (0-3, 8), Laura Cunneen (0-1, 7).

Sub: Phoebe Sage (6) for Stapleton (49 inj).

Thurles Sarsfields: Katie McCormack (6); Ciara Maher (7), Emer Kennedy (7), Rebecca O’Mara (6); Robyn Fanning (6), Laura Loughnane (9), Emma Carey (7), Ciara Cummins (6), Karen Kennedy (1-4, 9), Lucy Purcell (0-5, 1f, 7), Nicola Loughnane (0-1, 7), Aoife Dwyer (6), Sarah Stakelum (0-2, 7) Andrea Loughnane (1-2, 8), Caoimhe Stakelum (0-4 2f, 7.

Subs: Anna Derby (6) for N Loughnane (43); Emma O’Dwyer (7) for Maher (43); Maria Ralph (6) for S Stakelum (53); Karen Bohan (HR) for Dwyer (59).

Referee: TP Sullivan (Nenagh Eire Og).