Sarsfields deliver a ruthless display to crush Cashel King Cormacs in championship opener

FBD Insurance Senior Championship - Group 2 - Round 1

Thurles Sarsfields 7-22

Cashel King Cormacs 3-8

What was billed as the clash of the weekend was effectively over inside ten minutes as Thurles Sarsfields blitzed Cashel King Cormacs in Round 1 of the FBD Insurance Senior Championship.

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Karen Kennedy set the tone with a trademark surging run from midfield inside the opening minute, finishing to the net in style. From there, Sarsfields never looked back. Caoimhe Stakelum and Aoife Dwyer split the posts before Caoimhe struck for their second goal after just five minutes.

Cashel, missing several of their more experienced players, looked unsettled at the back. Without leadership in defence, they gave Sarsfields’ forwards far too much time and space, something that was punished ruthlessly.

Lucy Purcell, in devastating form, fired home the first of her three goals after seven minutes, while Caoimhe Stakelum and Sarah Stakelum added points. Caoimhe, almost unmarkable at this stage, bagged another goal on ten minutes to leave it 4-7 to no score – the contest effectively decided.

Cashel’s best player in the opening half was Nicole Shelley, who finally got them on the board with a well-taken point after 20 minutes. But Sarsfields responded ruthlessly, Purcell netting her second goal while Sarah Stakelum and Caoimhe Stakelum added points.

Shelley pointed again for Cashel, but further scores from Stakelum stretched the gap, leaving the halftime score at an emphatic 5-14 to 0-2.

Cashel were struggling all over the pitch, with the Sarsfields defence particularly impressive – Eimear Kennedy, Robyn Fanning, and Rebecca O’Mara standing out. In midfield, Karen Kennedy covered a huge amount of ground, while up front, all six forwards looked dangerous.

The second half began with Caoimhe Stakelum opening the scoring with a free, before Anna Fahie responded with a free for Cashel. 

Six minutes in, Cashel’s Ciara Dwan hit the net, and substitute Philly Fogarty, introduced at the break, made an immediate impact with a goal of her own. Nicole Shelly, Katelyn Downey, and Hannah Butler all registered second-half points in what was a much-improved second-half display.

Still, Sarsfields always had the firepower. Lucy Purcell added a further goal, before Andrea Loughnane, instrumental in much of Sarsfields’ attacking play, chipped in with a point of her own before substitute Maria Ralph found the net. Cashel finished with a late consolation goal from Aine O’Dwyer.

In the end, despite a more competitive second half from Cashel, there was never any doubt about the outcome as Thurles Sarsfields cruised to a comprehensive 7-22 to 3-8 victory, laying down a serious marker for this year’s championship.

Thurles Sarsfields: Siobhan Hennessey; Leanna Coppinger, Niamh McCormack, Rebecca O’Mara; Emma Carey, Emer Kennedy, Robyn Fanning; Karen Kennedy (1-0), Aoife Dywer (0-4, 0-1f); Andrea Loughnane (0-1), Sarah Stakelum (0-3), Ciara Cummins; Roisin Corbett, Caoimhe Stakelum (2-13, 0-6f), Lucy Purcell (3-1).

Subs used: Marie Creedon, Maria Ralph (1-0)

Cashel King Cormacs: Aoife O’Brien; Ella O’Dwyer, Meabh Ellie Ryan, Laura Connolly; Amy Crosse, Lily Fahie, Emer Dwan; Anna Fahie (0-1f), Anna O’Brien; Aine O’Dwyer (1-0), Grace Moloney, Nicole Shelly (0-4); Lisa Blair, Hannah Butler (0-2), Ciara Dwan (1-0).

Subs used: Philly Fogarty (1-0), Sorcha Ryan, Katelyn Downey (0-1), Rebecca Delahunty.

Referee: Tommy Ryan

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