Sarsfields Camogie defend their All Ireland crown against Oulart

Sarsfields' defence of their All Ireland senior camogie title steps up a notch on Saturday when they face Wexford's Oulart The Ballagh in this year's final.

UPMC Nowlan Park, Kilkenny, is the venue for this ultimate All Ireland fixture, which gets underway at 1.30pm.

The reigning AIB All-Ireland Senior Camogie Club champions are seeking back-to-back titles, and to date have looked impressive. After retaining the county championship again this year, they produced a solid victory over Drom and Inch of Tipperary by 0-11 to 0-4 in the All-Ireland semi-final to make a second decider in a row.

In Oulart The Ballagh, Sarsfields face the back-to-back Wexford champions, who overcame Thomastown of Kilkenny by 1-11 to 0-07 to claim Leinster title.

They went on to also beat Ulster champions Slaughtneil, who for the first time in four years have not advanced to the final.

Oulart were in impressive in that victory, and Sarsfields will need to monitor Shauna Sinnott who has been in top form for the Wexford outfit this season.

They are aiming to claim a third All-Ireland title since 2011, but Sarsfields will have other ideas. Runners up in the 2017 and 2018 All-Ireland deciders, before finally winning the crown in the 2019/2020 decider, Sarsfields' now know what it takes.

As always Siobhán McGrath will be the key marksman, having produced seven of her side’s tally at the weekend. But she will get strong support, not only from her siblings Orlaith and Niamh, but also players such as Rachel Murray, who last weekend illustrated the depth in the squad with a superscore off the stick after a pacy solo run.

Heavy rain had played a part in the low scoring of the first half, but Sarsfields' defence was teak tough with Maria Cooney, Laura Ward and Tara Cooney dominant for the Galway crew. The game produced only one goal chance and that arrived after 12 minutes when Siobhán McGrath’s penalty was saved brilliantly by Caoimhe Bourke.

Sarsfields is a tight knit group of women who play for each other, and that will be crucial when they face a Wexford outfit which has not made a final for six years.

The 2020/21 AIB All-Ireland Senior Camogie Club Championship final will be broadcast live from UPMC Nowlan Park on RTÉ this Saturday, December 18, with coverage starting from 1.15pm.

 

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