Dicksboro dethrone holders to claim historic titl
By Aoife Lanigan
REVIEW
Dicksboro 0-18
Sarsfields (Galway) 1-11
All pics courtesy of Inpho
A masterclass of shooting by Aoife Prendergast and a brilliant all-round team display that included some monumental contributions by Kirsty Maher, Jane Cass, Katie Byrne, Amy Clifford, Asha McHardy, Orla Hanrick and substitute Lucinda Gahan were some of the reasons Dicksboro secured a first AIB All Ireland Senior Club Camogie Title at Croke Park last Sunday evening and Kilkenny’s first Senior Club All Ireland win since St Lachtains (Freshford) won three in a row in 2004, 2005 & 2006
In the process, they ended Sarsfields three in a row dream. Dicksboro settled well, despite this being their first appearance at this level
Orlaith McGrath opened the scoring with a point from play for Sarsfields. But from the resulting puckout, Aoife Prendergast scored a great point from play to level matters. Then Prendergast converted a free before Rachel Murray equalised again. By the 15th minute, it was level 0-4 a piece with Prendergast (f) and Orla Hanrick adding points for the Boro and Caoimhe Kelly (f) and Siobhan McGrath (f) adding the points for Sarsfields
Aoife Prendergast (f) and Aobha O’Gorman pushed the Boro ahead by two points before Caoimhe Kelly added a point for Sarsfields
One of the standout moments of the match, was when the Boro’s Katie Byrne reacted quickest to a breaking ball out of a ruck and ran from her own 21m line to the opposition 21m line and laid off a handpass to Jenny Clifford who popped over a super point. Rachel Dowling added another point for the Boro after Aoife Prendergast laid off a neat pass to her. This put the Boro 0-8 to 0-5 ahead after 23 minutes
Siobhan McGrath tagged a point on for Sarsfields. In the 25th minute, Sarsfields got in for a goal after the McGrath sisters combined, Orlaith and Siobhan for the latter to get the goal, to put them ahead by a point but the Boro didn’t panic and they finished out the first half scoring with points from Asha McHardy and Orla Hanrick to leave the interval score 0-10 to 1-6 in favour of the Kilkenny side
On the resumption of play, Siobhan McGrath equalised for Sarsfields. Prendergast replied after a wonderful display of power and pace from McHardy drew the defensive cover
The Galway side struck the next three scores. Siobhan McGrath with a good point followed by two more excellent efforts by Shannon Corcoran and Sarah Spellman
The latter point arrived in the 43rd minute and it would be Sarsfields last score until Klara Donohoe drove over in the fourth minute of injury time
The key for Dicksboro was that they hung in through the whirlwind that threatened to overcome them and then, gradually, clawed their way to parity before re-asserting their dominance
Lucinda Gahan was introduced for the Boro in the 44th minute and what a difference she made
Prendergast stopped the rot from a free in the 48th minute. This was the start of a run of seven straight points that ultimately secured the Bill and Agnes O’Carroll Cup
Ciara O’Shea hit the leveller after a lovely handpass from Lucinda Gahan and then it was Aoife Prendergast and Amy Clifford doing the damage, as Dicksboro began to come out of more rucks with the sliotar, pin Sarsfields back and create more situations that ended with players in space
Prendergast added two points from frees and Amy Clifford added another point for the Boro, to put them five points ahead
Klara Donohoe pointed for Sarsfields in the 63rd minute. Heading towards the final whistle, Sarsfields were awarded a 20m free, Centre Back Maria Cooney came forward to take it and Kirsty Maher had to dive full length to deny her. That was the game’s last act though and for Dicksboro the celebrations could begin
Scorers – Dicksboro – Aoife Prendergast 0-9 (7f), Orla Hanrick, Amy Clifford 0-2 each, Aobha O’Gorman, Jenny Clifford, Rachel Dowling, Asha McHardy, Ciara O’Shea 0-1 each
Scorers – Sarsfields – Siobhan McGrath 1-4 (2f), Caoimhe Kelly 0-2 (2f), Orlaith McGrath, Rachel Murray, Shannon Corcoran, Sarah Spelman, Kiera Donohoe 0-1 each
Dicksboro – Kirsty Maher, Jane Cass, Tara Clifford, Katie Byrne, Niamh Phelan, Caoimhe Dowling, Ciara Phelan, Ciara O’Shea, Aobha O’Gorman, Asha McHardy, Amy Clifford, Rachel Dowling, Aoife Prendergast, Orla Hanrick, Jenny Clifford (Capt)
Subs – Lucinda Gahan for Rachel Dowling, Rose Kelly for Orla Hanrick, Niamh O’Donoghue for Ciara O’Shea, Tara McGrath for Amy Clifford, Danielle Kenny, Bronagh Doheny, Caoimhe Carroll, Angela Carroll, Aisling Browne, Sarah O’Gorman, Orlaith Moore, Emer Phelan, Becky Peters, Sinead Carroll, Eva Healy, Issey Carroll, Isabel Roberts, Rachel Egan, Isabelle Fahy, Isabelle Egan, Kate O’Neill, Libby Carroll
Sarsfields – Laura Glynn, Reitseal Kelly, Laura Ward (Capt), Kate Gallagher, Tara Kenny, Maria Cooney, Joanne Daly, Clodagh McGrath, Sarah Spellman, Klara Donohoe, Orlaith McGrath, Rachel Murray, Shannon Corcoran, Siobhan McGrath, Caoimhe Kelly
Subs – Cora Kenny for Caoimhe Kelly, Ciara McGrath, Cliona Cahalan, Aoibhe Deeley, Ciara Kyne, Aisling Dillon, Rachel Murphy, Ciara Ward, Elysia Cox, Jasmine Scully, Melissa McDonnell, Bronagh Deeley, Emily Dillon, Erica Leslie, Sheena Warde, Laoise McGrath, Niamh McGrath
