CAMOGIE ROUND UP: Thurles Sarsfields reach first-ever senior semi-final

FBD Insurance Senior Quarter Finals 

Thurles Sarsfields have reached their first-ever senior semi-final after a 2-19 to 4-9 win over Eire Og Annacarty on Saturday afternoon. They say ‘goals win games’ but in this case, it was an impressive points tally of 19 points that helped Thurles to a four-point win.

Playing with the aid of the win Sars raced into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead before Eva O’Dwyer scored a penalty to reduce the deficit. Once again Karen Kennedy was on fire and before long she had struck three points from play while Caoimhe Stakelum also had her name on the score sheet.

But Annacarty had a second green flag thanks to a class touch from Leah Heffernan. Thurles led at the break 0-13 to 2-2. A third goal from Annacarty, Eva O’Dwyer’s second made it a two-point game 3-6 to 0-17 with 20 minutes gone.

But any thoughts of Annacarty going ahead were quickly squashed with two goals in quick succession from Thurles. There was still time for one final goal from Annacarty to leave the full-time score 2-9 to 4-9 in Thurles’ favour.

In the other quarter final Clonoulty Rossmore were too strong for Silvermines to run out comfortable winners 1-17 to 0-7. Clonoulty had the wind advantage in the first half and a great spread of scorers including Eimear Loughman, Casey Hennessey, Cait Devane and Courtney Ryan to give them a 1-12 to 0-2 lead at half-time.

The second half was a closer affair with both sides scoring 5 points each. Joanne Mcgrath was excellent between the posts for the Mine. Clonoulty now plays Borris-Ileigh this Sunday in the County semi-final while. Drom & Inch take on Thurles Sarsfields.

FBD Insurance Intermediate Championship

Cahir without their star forward Roisin Howard - who is gone travelling to Australia - struggled against a strong Newport Ballinahinch side in Cahir, losing out 1-12 to 0-4.

Shannon Rovers travelled to Toomevara on a wet windy Sunday afternoon and both teams served up a fine game of camogie despite the conditions. In the fourth minute, Rovers full forward Gillian McKenna gave a glimpse of what was to come when she plucked the ball out of the sky, turned and blasted to the net.

Aoife McLoughney also scored three fine points from play and set up many scores for Gillian and Laura Leenane to leave the half-time score 3-6 to 0-4. Toomevara started the second half strongly with Mags Quigley, Shauna Quirke and Eimear Troy in particular bringing the fight to the Rovers girls.

However, the Rovers girls upped the work rate all over the field, none more so than Áine Cleary, Rachel Hannigan and Eimear Fogarty to send the ball inside where Laura Leenane finished the game with 2 goals and player of the match Gillian McKenna with a whopping 4-2 from play.

FBD Insurance Junior A Quarter Finals

Both St Rita’s Fethard and Brian Borus recorded big wins over their travelling North opponents on Saturday and now progress to the semi-finals with real momentum behind them. Brian Borus beaten finalists in recent years scored an impressive 4-20 against Ballina who finished with nine points.

While Fethard defeated Lorrha 2-17 to 1-7. Brian Borus drew Moycarkey Borris in the semi-final in what will be a mouth-watering clash between many people’s two favourites to win this year's championship.

With some impressive displays from Noirin Butler and Dee Dunne in particular Drom & Inch took the game to Moycarkey Borris in the opening half of their Junior A quarter-final. At half time Moycarkey led 1-11 to 2-4.

With the wind advantage in the second half and the Moycarkey attack really finding their rhythm, they ended up running out comfortable winners on a final scoreline of 3-24 to 2-06.

Sarah Corcoran was excellent and finished with 1-9, 1-4 of which was from play. Emma O’Sullivan and Catriona Walsh also goaled while Kate Ralph was excellent in midfield and finished with 0-5.

The fourth quarter-final saw Holycross Ballycahill and Kiladangan meet in Puckane in driving wind and pouring rain. Playing against the wind and only moments gone Holycross Ballycahill were awarded a penalty which was saved by the Kiladangan goalkeeper. Michelle Dwan opened the scoring with a point from play for Holycross Ballycahill.

This was followed closely with another point for Holycross Ballycahill from Grainne O’Dowd. Kiladangan got into the game and scored 3 points but soon afterwards Holycross had their first goal of the game thanks to Sarah Ryan after a pin-point pass from a Linda Fanning free.

Towards the end of the first half, Kiladangan added 4 points to their tally. while Holycross were reduced to 14 players. Holycross Ballycahill started the second half well with points from Lauren McCormack and Claire Stakelum. While it was the 45th minute before Kiladanagan got their first score of the second half. In the end despite being down a player scores just came that bit easier for Holycross and their fitness also shone through as they ran out 3-10 to 1-9 winners.