Sarsfields' Niamh McGrath pictured ahead of the AIB Camogie All-Ireland Club Championship Senior Final.
By Cian O’Connell
These truly are remarkable times for Sarsfields. The proud Galway club are set to contest an eighth AIB All-Ireland Club Camogie final in nine years at Croke Park on Sunday against Clare’s Truagh Clonlara.
Sarsfields’ links to a glorious hurling era in the 90s are significant. Niamh McGrath has heard all the stories about the class and character her father, Michael ‘Hopper’, and uncles demonstrated, alongside others on playing fields throughout the country.
It was that type of grit and defiance Sarsfields required at the All-Ireland semi-final stage. Loughgiel Shamrocks’ blistering start was rewarded with a nine point lead. Somehow, Sarsfields recovered. “It was unbelievable to be honest, we were delighted, such a tough battle,” McGrath reflects.
“There is never anything between us, so it went as expected. We're delighted, but over it now too because, ultimately, if we don't win the All-Ireland it doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things.”
Is it hard to simply park such an emotional and stirring victory? “Of course, especially in the circumstances we won it, coming back from nine points down to win it by a point,” McGrath responds.
“It is very hard. You're on cloud nine, you can think that is the All-Ireland, but it isn't, which is very clear. So, on Sunday night when we got home, it was all very much about recovery on Monday, drive on then for the final.
"We enjoyed it, obviously, on Sunday, but since the beginning of that week our thoughts turned to the final, just driving on for that, now.”
This is familiar territory for Sarsfields. To be playing late into the year, preparing for a high stakes battle at the Jones Road venue. “It is brilliant, you'd barely know it is the lead up to Christmas because you're training and thinking about the matches, stuff like that,” McGrath says. “It is a great complaint, it is great to be one of the few teams training at this time of the year.”
A renowned and respected outfit, McGrath acknowledges that these are special days for Sarsfields. “I suppose, we probably won't realise that until you're retired because you just want to win as much as you can, while you can,” she remarks.
Niamh McGrath remains a key performer for Sarsfields. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile
“We were very disappointed last year and also the ones we lost before. We've got to eight finals now, but we need to up the return. Hopefully we will do that on the 15th, but it will be a very tough task.
“Truagh are a brilliant team, we've played them in a number of challenge matches down through the years, there has never been anything between us.
“They're very, very good with a number of Clare stars, who probably don't get the recognition they deserve on a national level, but they're super players. We're under no illusions about the challenge that is ahead of us.”
During the past decade, Sarsfields have shown an admirable ability to respond to setbacks and harrowing losses. “We do, to be fair,” McGrath replies.
“We just take it one step at a time because Galway is so hard to win. We barely came out of Galway this year, we beat Athenry in the semi-final, it was a draw, but it took us extra-time to beat them.
“You've always so many challenges in Galway, other teams are mad to win Galway. So, we don't really look ahead to the All-Ireland any year, otherwise you wouldn't be long getting beat, if that was the case.”
As the Sarsfields’ adventure has continued, McGrath’s perspective has altered somewhat. There is joy in the journey. “To be honest as the years have gone on, you probably don't get as nervous before matches, maybe not nervous, but unnecessary overthinking of the games, stuff like that,” she says.
“At the end of the day, it is still only sport, there is no point making too much of a big deal out of it. While you're there, it is really about seizing the opportunity that is ahead of us. I know everybody says you're in how many All-Irelands, but in the grand scheme of things it is only 10 years of your life.
“We will be long enough sitting down, watching matches, not being able to do anything anymore, this group. We just want to take every match on its own merit and win this one on Sunday because it would be great to have a good Christmas ahead of us, if we manage it.”