Rovers grounded by impressive Sars

In their second outing in the County Senior Camogie Championship, Shannon Rovers suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Thurles Sarsfields in a rather one-side encounter on Saturday evening.

CAMOGIE: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Championship Group 1 Round 2

Thurles Sarsfields 3-23

Shannon Rovers 1-8

Report: Michael Dundon in Thurles

A win over Silvermines in their first outing had last years intermediate champions in buoyant mood going to Thurles and, although the home side were hotly favoured to emerge victorious, the North girls did not expect to be 21 points behind at the finish. The margin of defeat did not do their efforts justice but there was no disputing which was the better side.

Sarsfields had beaten Clonoulty/Rossmore in their opening game and had their second brace of points safely secured inside ten minutes as they registered 1-6 without reply. Lucy Purcell got the goal after five minutes off a Karen Kennedy delivery.

Sarsfields were dominating in all sectors with Emma Carey a commanding figure in defence, and Andrea Loughnane a constant threat in attack.

Aoife McLoughney had Rovers first point from a free after eleven minutes and added a second almost immediately. The Rovers seemed to be settling but it was however a brief respite as Sarsfields, pacier and slicker in all they did, pushed forward relentlessly, Sarah Stakelum netting their second goal at the end of the first quarter for a 2-8 to 0-2 lead. At half-time they were 2-15 to 0-4 clear, reducing the second half to a formality.

There was nothing in Shannon Rovers’ first half showing to suggest they could make up the leeway in the second half but to their credit they did much better on the changeover. However, there was never the slightest prospect of them catching their rivals who began to use their full quota of subs early in the period.

Full forward Aine Slattery got the Rovers’ goal on the hour mark, too late to make a difference. The Rovers did have the ball in the Thurles net after 39 minutes but to their dismay it was disallowed for an infringement of the square. Such was the dominance of the home team that even had it been allowed, it would have made no difference to the result.

It was a disappointing evening for the Shannon Rovers girls,’ but it clearly set down a marker for them as to the level they will have to reach to be contenders for silverware. No one could fault them for commitment, but the skillset and pace of their opponents was much superior.

Coming up are games with Cashel King Cormacs and Clonoulty/Rossmore, nothing easy there either, but Shannon Rovers will hope to benefit from this outing to produce performances that will keep them in the championship hunt. Niamh Franks, Aoife McLoughney, Nicola Kelly, Anna Harding, and goalie Rita Bourke all did well.

With two wins under their belt, Thurles Sarsfields are shaping up well for the business end of the championship. In Emma Carey, Karen Kennedy, Andrea Loughnane and Lucy Purcell they are strong on leadership with Ciara Cummins, Aoife Butler, and Nicola Loughnane also making big contributions to the win. Their subs bench is also strong, with many younger players pressing for inclusion and giving them valuable options to further their ambitions in the concluding stages of the campaign.

Player of the Match: Emma Carey (Thurles Sarsfields)

Thurles Sarsfields: Siobhan Hennessy (6); Aoife Butler (7), Eimear Kennedy (6), Rebecca O’Mara (6); Laura Loughnane (6), Emma Carey (9), Robyn Fanning (6); Ciara Cummins (7), Karen Kennedy (7); Aoife Dwyer (0-3, 7), Lucy Purcell (1-3, 7), Nicola Loughnane (0-2, 6); Sarah Stakelum (1-2, 6), Andrea Loughnane (1-3, 7), Caoimhe Stakelum (0-9, 7f, 6).

Subs: Karen Bohan (6) for E Kennedy (40); Roisin Corbett (6) for Purcell (52); Anna Derby (6) for Fanning (52); Marie Ralph (6) for A Loughnane (54); Katie Stakelum (0-1, 7) for Dwyer (54).

Shannon Rovers: Rita Bourke (6); Eimear Fogarty (6), Frances Bugler (6), Paula Hannigan (6); Esme Costello (6), Niamh Franks (7), Aine Cleary (7); Anna Harding (7), Aoife McLoughney (0-4, 2f, 7); Nicola Kelly (0-3, 7), Beth Harding (0-1, 6), Emma Darcy (6); Laura Lennon (6), Aine Slattery (1-0, 7), Celine Guinan (6).

Subs: Clodagh Cahalan (6) for Darcy (40); Ava Young (6) for Costello (48); Rose Hannigan (6) for Hannigan (52).

Referee: Gerry Slattery (Cashel King Cormacs).