Maggie magic sends De La Salle into Munster decider
De La Salle's Maggie Gostl scores her second goal of the afternoon. Photos: Noel Browne
De La Salle are through to a first ever Munster Senior Club Camogie Championship Final following a thrilling finish that saw them edge Thurles Sarsfields in a classic encounter.
As was the case in the county final, Maggie Gostl scored a brace of goals which proved decisive, as the Déise champions came from as far as seven points down to create history in Gracedieu.
Karen Kennedy and Caoimhe Stakelum were excellent for the visitors and it was the latter who opened the scoring with a fine strike after 20 seconds, before Kennedy then broke free and knocked over to open her account.
Abby Flynn then found Gostl who spun her marker to get De La Salle going on four minutes, but there were heads in hands moments later as a long ball made its way all the way through to the clinical Laura Loughnane who beat the onrushing Brianna O’Regan to fire the game’s opening goal.
De La Salle responded well, Beth Carton hit a trademark score off the left before Keeley Corbett Barry set up Flynn to split the posts and the same player repeated the trick to make it a one point game.
Thurles Sarsfields hit a purple patch with the aid of the breeze, responding with the next five white flags. A superb Stakelum score was followed by a Loughnane point when she threatened a second goal, before another Stakelum free pushed the boat further out.
Goal opportunities kept cropping up and De La Salle had O’Regan to thank that the game didn’t start to go away on them as she made a fine stop to deny Kennedy on 19 minutes. Marie Creedon set up Stakelum to provide further punishment from close range before great work from Ciara Cummins freed Loughane to establish a six-point lead.
Carton was fouled and pointed the requisite free for the host’s first score in almost 15 minutes as the breeze began to play a part, before O’Regan was again called into action to deny a near post effort from Loughnane and Stakelum made no mistake with the 45.
It was very much the Stakelum show for the first period as she hit another belter from midfield. De La Salle needed something and needed it fast, and it arrived right on the cusp of half-time.
A fine ball from Carton set Flynn racing away and she picked out Gostl who from an angle sent a rocket into the top left corner past Siobhán Hennessy on 29 minutes - rapturous applause from all present and game on again.
Gostl then turned provider as Flynn’s influence was beginning to be felt on the scoreboard, but Stakelum was determined to have the final say before the break - she was again allowed the opportunity to tap over by Creedon, before a mesmeric effort from the far sideline curled back in between the posts to make it 1-11 to 1-6 at half-time.
De La Salle came out firing after the break and Gostl and Flynn combined to Sars’ detriment again, before Stakelum responded with her ninth. Carton provided two shots in the arm - a well taken free and a fine effort on the run, and on 36 - she played a key role in making it honours even.
The former Player of the Year hit an incredible pass into the path of Flynn and once again she made the right call in offloading to Gostl - and the deadly youngster made no mistake when presented the opportunity; 1-12 to 2-9.
That was the first time the sides were level but it wasn’t to be the last as they traded blow for blow throughout. Stakelum and Carton traded dead balls before De La Salle hit the front for the first time on 40 minutes when Holly Ryan and Abbie Mullane combined and Mullane was accurate under pressure.
A Carton free nudged them two ahead but one from Stakelum reduced the advantage to the minimum and a piece of genuine magic from the same player drew gasps to level it once more with fifteen minutes left.
She was then fouled by Allanah McNulty who assumed responsibility for keeping her quiet, and knocked over the free to re-establish the lead. Flynn was bundled over at the end and it was level for a fourth occasion when Carton hit her seventh.
A feeling began to develop that the next goal would be the difference and panic alarms sounded for De La Salle for exactly that reason on 54 minutes. Stakelum skinned her markers and unleashed Loughnane, and she showed great composure bearing down on goal to round O’Regan and send the Tipperary champions seemingly on their way to the final.
De La Salle were never ones to kick their wounds and that evidence didn’t take long to resurface. Carton got the revival going with a stunner from the left flank, before Flynn teed up Mullane to make it a one-point affair. The determination was exemplified by Carton who wrestled back possession and Flynn picked up the loose sliotar and the prospect of extra time loomed large.
Having already scored two goals, that wasn’t enough for Gostl who took the game by the scruff of the neck when it mattered most. She won a free in the corner and Carton converted, before getting out in front and belting over another to provide a two-point cushion.
She then turned provider for Carton once more as she was hauled down, before knocking over a superb point on the spin and when Hennessy’s requisite puck out fell into her path she repeated the trick. Scoring three and winning the two frees, the teenager played a direct hand in the last five points.
Thurles threw the kitchen sink and provided a momentary scare when Emma Carey finished a goalmouth scramble to the net, but the rearguard held resolute to secure a famous two-pint victory and a ticket to a first Munster Senior Club Camogie Championship Final.
There were emotional and jubilant scenes at full time, and they’ll hope for the same again when they face Cork champions St Finbarr’s in the decider.
Maggie Gostl (2-4); Beth Carton (0-10; 0-7f); Abby Flynn (0-5); Abbie Mullane (0-2).
Caoimhe Stakelum (0-13; 0-7f; 0-1 ‘45); Laura Loughane (2-2); Emma Carey (1-0); Karen Kennedy (0-1).
Brianna O’Regan; Shayla Condon, Alex Healy, Megan O’Connor; Taylor Healy; Alannah McNulty, Emma Kennedy; Keeley Corbett Barry, Leah Browne; Courtney Healy, Beth Carton, Holly Ryan; Abbie Mullane, Abby Flynn, Maggie Gostl.
Isabel Boland for Leah Browne (51); Niamh Murphy for Taylor Healy (51).
Siobhán Hennessy; Leanna Coppinger, Niamh McCormack, Rebecca O’Mara; Emma Carey, Emer Kennedy, Marie Creedon; Ciara Cummins, Aoife Dwyer; Andrea Loughane, Lucy Purcell, Sarah Stakelum; Karen Kennedy, Caoimhe Stakelum, Laura Loughnane.
Aoife Butler for Rebecca O’Mara (43); Róisín Corbett for Sarah Stakelum (57); Anna Derby for Leanna Coppinger (60).
Donnacha O’Callaghan (Limerick)
