REPORTS: Senior camogie championship down to last four after brilliant quarter-final ties

FBD Insurance Senior Camogie Championship Quarter-Final

Thurles Sarsfields 3-30

Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams  1-6

Thurles Sarsfields hosted Knockavilla Donaskeigh in the Outside Field on Saturday, with Knockavilla coming into the county quarter-finals with momentum after beating Burgess Duharra in their final group game while Sarsfields had convincingly won all their group games.

It was time for knock-out camogie and there was no second chance remaining. Sarsfields got a great start with an opening score from Caoimhe Stakelum but Kickhams were adamant they were there to compete and Ellen Browne gave Sarsfields keeper no chance as she hit a rasper into the back of the home sides net. 

Sarsfields found themselves behind and Knockavilla brought great strength and physicality. Star forward Eimear Heffernan confidently struck points in the opening 15 minutes from both frees and play and Sarsfields looked to Caoimhe Stakelum, Lucy Purcell and Karen Kennedy to keep the blues scoreboard tipping.

Millie Kelly worked extremely hard for the west women as Ereena Friday and Caoimhe McCarthy took the task of marking the town sides midfield duo of Ciara Cummins and Karen Kennedy. 

Sarah Stakelum and Andrea Loughnane both struck points from play in the final five minutes of the first half. Nicola Loughnane was powerful in attack for the Sars. Half-time saw  Sarsfields with a ten point lead but many were mindful that the home side had the benefit of a strong wind in the opening half. 

Unfortunately for KnockavillaKickhams, Sarsfields started where they left off with points from Nicola Loughnane, Aoife Dwyer and Andrea Loughnane. Sarsfields scored three successive goals within five minutes coming from Kennedy, Stakelum, and Purcell. 

Emma Carey kept the Sarsfields back line steady with first cousin Emer Kennedy holding strong at full back. The favourites secured a comfortable victory at 3-30 to 1-6 the final scoreline. Knockavilla showed great spirit and have a young team with great potential. Sarsfields will play Cashel in the county semi final when rivals meet again. 

Thurles Sarsfields: Siobhan Hennessy; Aoife Butler, Emer Kennedy, Leanna Coppinger; Laura Loughnane, Emma Carey, Robyn Fanning; Ciara Cummins, Karen Kennedy (1-2); Aoife Dwyer (0-2), Lucy Purcell (1-3), Nicola Loughnane (0-1); Sarah Stakelum (0-2), Andrea Loughnane (0-4), Caoimhe Stakelum (1-16, 0-13f).

Subs used: Rebecca O’Mara for Robyn Fanning (42); Ella Moloney for Ciara Cummins (51); Kate Stakelum for Nicola Loughnane (53); Anna Derby for Laura Loughnane (55); Maria Ralph for Sarah Stakelum (55). 

Knockavilla Kickhams: Sheena Ryan; Emma Ryan, Sarah Mae Crosse, Saoirse O’Dwyer; Sarah Ryan, Caoimhe McCormack, Sinead Furlong; Caoimhe McCarthy, Ereena Fryday; Millie Kelly, Nimah Slattery, Emma O’Mara (0-1); Eimear Heffernan (0-5, 0-2f), Ellen Browne (1-0), Emma Daly.

Referee: Joe Leahy (Moyne Templetuohy)