Slaughtneil (Derry) 1-10 Sarsfields (Galway) 0-11
A record attendance witnessed an Ulster team winning the AIB All-Ireland Camogie Senior Club Championship for only the second time as Slaughtneil proved strongest on the home straight after a ding-dong battle with a resolute Sarsfields.
It is a first success for a Derry side but just further torment for Galway, as it represented a fifth consecutive final defeat for the county’s representatives.
An aggregate of 6,123 came through the Croke Park turnstiles, and for the finals to attract a highest attendance ever while the games were also being streamed bore testimony to an increasing appeal.
Slaughtneil’s presence undoubtedly had a lot to do with that, the club having secured an historic three-timer at senior level in Ulster, while the footballers are also in an All-Ireland final on St Patrick’s Day.
This was had extra resonance though, as joint manager Thomas Cassidy had passed away just before the drawn Ulster final, having been the leading light in the development of camogie and hurling in the club.
It was Cassidy who enticed Antrim legend Dominic McKinley to join him and Damian McEldowney and the latter duo steered the ship magnificently through an emotionally testing period.
Cassidy’s three daughters Aoife, Brona and Eilís played two days after burying their father and were magnificent on the biggest stage of all.
As captain, Aoife had the honour of lifting the Bill & Agnes Carroll Cup before delivering a memorable speech entirely as Gaeilge in what was probably the ultimate tribute to her father, who fostered a love of the native tongue and culture in all his children.
Provincial decider
Eilís must have gone very close to being named player of the match, as must sweeper and ace freetaker Louise Dougan but there could be few arguments either against the award to Shannon Graham, who covered every blade of grass and emerged from countless rucks with possession.
Slaughtneil started well with points from Graham and Dougan but Sarsfields settled and with Niamh McGrath slotting four points from frees, they led entering the second quarter.
The hero of the replayed provincial decider, Mary Kelly gave a reminder of her threat when hitting the upright in the 19th minute and Eilís Cassidy’s follow-up was smothered on the line by Yvonne Lyons.
Orlaith McGrath slotted two excellent points on the run but Dougan landed a pair of massive frees from around 55m out and tight to the Hogan Stand sideline to give Slaughtneil a marginal interval advantage, 0-7 to 0-6.
Slaughtneil wasted a number of good opportunities early in the second half but the vital goal came five minutes in when Eilís Cassidy showed tremendous vision to hit a reverse pass off the sod while running away from goal, back towards Kelly and the corner-forward made no mistake.
‘Hopper’ McGrath’s crew dug deep though and the switch of the manager’s youngest daughter (there were four on the pitch), the 16-year-old Siobhán to the half-forward line had a significant impact as she flourished in the space and shot three points.
The Galway club drew level but crucially they could not edge ahead despite having the upper hand. It was in this period that Dougan and Graham really showed their worth, repelling attack after attack.
Slaughtneil’s large support grew more vocal on the back of each clearance and the players lifted the bar once more.
They found the likes of Erica Leslie and Laura Ward in the Sarsfields rearguard in equally unyielding mood but after Graham was fouled, Dougan restored Slaughtneil’s lead in the 59th minute, ending a lengthy period for her side without a score from the time Eilís Cassidy had exhibited tremendous stickwork to point deftly towards the end of the third quarter.
And it was the centre-forward who had the last say, driving over spectacularly while on the move and wide on the left.
SLAUGHTNEIL: J Bradley; J McMullan, B Cassidy, Dervlagh McGuigan; G O'Kane, A Cassidy, C McGrath; L Dougan (0-6 frees), S Graham (0-1); S McKaigue, E Cassidy (0-3), Denise McGuigan; M Kelly (1-0), S Mellon, T Mellon. Subs: B McAister for Denise McGuigan (48), F Burke for S Mellon (58), C Mulholland for T Mellon (60+3)
SARSFIELDS: Y Lyons; R Murphy, L Ward, A Spellman; T Kenny, C McGrath, E Leslie; N McGrath (0-4, 0-3 frees, 0-1 45), K Gallagher; S Spellman (0-1), O McGrath (0-3), K Donohue; S Cannon, M Cooney, S McGrath (0-3.)
Referee: R Kelly (Kildare)
