Sarsfields' glory forged in December humbling - Niamh McGrath

After collecting the Bill and Agnes Carroll Cup, skipper Niamh McGrath referenced the maelstrom of emotions the Sarsfields players had experienced in the past ten weeks.

From losing the 2020-21 AIB All-Ireland Senior Club Camogie Championship to Oulart-The Ballagh less than three months ago and then coming through a titanic extra-time battle with old rivals Slaughtneil in the following season's semi-final in the midst of a storm, they were back getting one over on OTB at Croke Park to reassert themselves as the premier club side in the land on a 3-12 to 4-05 scoreline.

Reflecting on it on the pitch afterwards, it was the harsh lessons they had been taught by Oulart-The Ballagh that were at the forefront of her mind, however. And it was evident from the opening exchanges, that everyone had taken them on board.

"We really were shown up big time in December," said McGrath in a bracingly honest assessment of that game.

"They absolutely hurled us off the pitch. We really put our shoulder to the wheel after that. I don’t think we’ve ever trained at such an intensity. We just put our standards up so much. They made us look at ourselves, so it’s great and the inside forward line were fantastic that way, tackling like dogs."

Sarsfields come out on top to win the All-Ireland club final at Croke Park at the expense of Oulart The Ballagh #rtegaa pic.twitter.com/n1SiG6cBZO

McGrath shared the occasion with her three sisters Orlaith, Clodagh and Siobhan. The latter is one of the real leaders of this team, despite being the youngest of the quartet, supplementing a scoring return of 1-07 with phenomenal industry, forcing a slew of turnovers and covering most blades of the pitch.

"It was workrate that won it for us," insisted Siobhán. "We didn’t