Sarah Harding hat trick powers Birr to third title in four seasons

HQ Physio Offaly Senior A Championship Final

BIRR 3-18

SHINRONE 1-10

BIRR are once again the champions of the Offaly Senior Camogie Championship after a comprehensive 3-18 to 1-10 win over Shinrone in Grant Heating St Brendan’s Park, Birr, on Sunday.

It’s Birr’s third title in four seasons and this game was won in very convincing fashion as Sarah Harding finished with a hat trick of goals and was the danger player right throughout the 60 minutes and caused a lot of hassle for the Shinrone back line.

Roisin Kinsella was also outstanding at the back as was Arlene Watkins at centre forward and Hannah Murphy also put in a fantastic shift at wing back.

For Shinrone, it’s a tough defeat for them to take as their wait for a first title since 2016 goes on, but they take great encouragement from the year they’ve had, which included victory over 2024 champions St Cillian's in the semi-finals, but it wasn’t to be their day on Sunday as Birr were just the better side overall.

Birr started the stronger as Sarah Harding’s chance after the second minute was saved expertly in the nets by Emer Reynolds, but Mairead Jennings was on hand to strike the resulting '45' over to add to her free after the opening 60 seconds.

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The opening 10 minutes were nip and tuck, both sides settling into the game and a few uncharacteristic fouls given away by both teams, but Birr would have been the happier of the two sides early on, with Mairead Jennings on placed balls, and the first score from play coming from the stick of Sarah Harding, before Christine Cleary opened her account for Shinrone’s first from play, and the sides kept tight on the scoreline.

Emer Reyonlds kept out another Sarah Harding chance, but she couldn’t keep her out a third time as a floating ball in by Roisin Kinsella was picked up by Harding and her tidy finish over the head of Reynolds and into the roof of the net initially gave Birr the advantage they needed, but Sharon Ryan’s team didn’t falter as Michaela Morkan came through seconds later and her first time strike was ever so slightly too powerful for Caoimhe Kinsella in the goals and brought Shinrone back into the game.

But then an unfortunate moment for Reynolds in nets as she kept out Harding again, but the spin of the ball came off the tip of her hurl and trickled its way into the net, with Harding claiming it as the scoreline read 2-5 to 1-3 after 20 minutes.

Roisin Kinsella was sweeping really well for Birr and was gathering possession at her disposal and with the help of Mairead Jennings sending over her 45’s and frees to keep Birr that extra bit ahead as they led at the break.

The second half saw domination by Birr as a 40th minute goal made it a hat trick of goals for Sarah Harding and the Birr side and they were able to see out the second half without any worry or doubt about the result. Mairead Jennings also finished up with 0-12 and Birr are now Offaly champions for the third time in four seasons and will certainly now fancy a crack at the provincial championships.

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MATCH ANALYSIS

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

SARAH HARDING (BIRR): Roisin Kinsella had an excellent game at centre back and was crucial at the back for Birr, with Mairead Jennings also instrumental in the full forward line for Birr, ending with 0-12 .

For Shinrone, Sharon Shanahan had a good game in the middle and finished with 0-2, while Michaela Morkan worked hard for her side and got a good goal.

Sarah Harding is the pick for player of the match as she finished with 3-2 overall and caused so many issues in the full forward line all day and could easily have ended with more if it wasn’t for Emer Reynolds.

THE SCORERS

Birr: Sarah Harding (3-2), Mairead Jennings (0-12, 0-8 frees, 0-2 '45s'), Arlene Watkins (0-2), Kate Pilkington and Alana Roddy (0-1 each).

Shinrone: Nicola Cleary (0-5, frees), Michaela Morkan (1-1), Sharon Shanahan (0-2), Christine Cleary and Jane Cleary (0-1 each).

THE TEAMS

BIRR: Caoimhe Kinsella; Rebbecca Ryan, Deirdre Cashen (C), Jazzy Bennett; Hannah Murphy, Roisin Kinsella, Hannah Feenane; Ciara Ryan, Alana Roddy (VC); Kate Pilkington, Arlene Watkins, Ellen Regan; Mairead Jennings, Sarah Harding, Faye Mulrooney. Subs– Sheila Sullivan for Bennett (40m), Eimear Mooney for Mulrooney (45m), Aoibhe Kennedy for Harding (61m) .

SHINRONE: Emer Reynolds; Eilish Gleeson, Aoife Liffey, Sarah Cleary; Andrea Kieran, Marion Crean, Kelly Sammon; Sharon Shanahan, Amy Byrne; Jane Cleary, Christine Cleary, Michaela Morkan; Nicola Cleary, Caitlin O’Meara (C), Eimear Maher. Subs– Grace Cleary for Maher (34m), Oonagh Gleeson for Cleary (34m), Saoirse Liffey for Kieran (50m), Keeva Davey for Cleary (56m), Ciara Sammon for O’Meara (56m).

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REFEREE WATCH

Kyle Waters took charge of the A final and did a good job in the middle and handled things relatively well throughout .

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

The hat trick goal from Sarah Harding which ultimately sealed the victory with 20 minutes to go was a great finish and a great way for her to also win player of the match.

VENUE WATCH

Grant Heating St Brendan’s Park hosted the two games on Sunday afternoon and it did so well, and there was also a great crowd in Birr for the game, despite some worries about lines not being drawn for the final which wasn’t good.

WHAT'S NEXT

Birr will go forward into the Leinster Championship, while for Shinrone it’s the end of the season. 

STATISTICS

Wides: Shinrone – 4 (3 in first half); Birr – 8 (4 in first half).

Yellow cards: Shinrone – 2 (Sarah Cleary and Kelly Sammon) Birr – 2 (Hannah Feenane and Kate Pilkington).

Red cards: Shinrone – (0) Birr – (0).

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