Well done to the Charlestown Sarsfields senior ladies team who began their quest for Intermediate championship honours with a fine 4-7 to 1-7 victory over Castlebar in round one of the group stages played in Fr O`Hara Park, Charlestown recently.

The Sarsfields were at it from  throw-in and were sharp and eager in all areas of the pitch as they pinned the visitors back and came at them from all angles.

The ladies played with a spirit and passion that was admirable as they took the game to the visitors in impressive fashion.

 Early goals from Leasha McHale and Leanne Duffy left the Sarsfields in  a commanding position as they went into the interval sitting pretty on a 2-5 to 0-2 lead and were very much in the box seat as they were lording it over their opponents in every sector of the field.

It was always going to be hard for the green and white to sustain such a high level of intensity and tempo for the duration of the match and there was an inevitable fall off in the second period with the Mitchels getting more of a foothold as they ramped up their level of performance.

 The Sarsfields defence were called upon to do their stuff and this they duly did as they repelled some of the Mitchels most dangerous attacks with a combination of brave and tenacious defending as shots were blocked and passes were intercepted with the girls hurling their bodies on the line with commendable courage.

 The Mitchels did manage to get through for a goal which unsettled the Sarsfields for a spell but they  regained control with two green flags of their own with Hannah Morrisroe and Leanne Duffy lifting the siege and giving the Sarsfields the cushion and impetus to kick on and close out the match without any further scares or alarms.

 A fine first outing in championship mode for the Sarsfields ladies and one which had the management team of Ronan Kenny, Tommy Halligan and Margaret Colleary beaming with pride and satisfaction as a lot  their hard work and coaching expertise came to fruition in what was a fine and competant performance from what`s in essence a very young and inexperienced squad.

Hannah Morrisroe was outstanding in defence well supported by Kellee Crean, Clodagh Murphy and keeper Sophie Johnson who was a model of composure between the posts. Chelsea Doherty and Ella Brennan were rampant in the middle of the pitch while in attack Leanne Duffy was the scoring hero with a brace of goals well backed up by Leasha McHale, Nora McGovern and Nicola Meehan as the ladies now switch their focus to a clash with near neighbours and keen rivals Kilmovee Shamrocks in game two of the group.