Tipp reach first league final in 11 years

CAMOGIE: Littlewoods Ireland National League Division 1

 

 

Galway 0-10

Tipperary 1-8

 

Report: Eanna O’Reilly in Ballinasloe

 

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Cait Devane (Tipperary)

SCORERS – Galway: Carrie Dolan 0-6 (5 frees); Ailish O'Reilly 0-2; Niamh Kilkenny, Sarah Healy (free).

Tipperary: Cait Devane 0-6 (5 frees); Roisin Howard 1-0; Niamh Treacy, Laura Shinners (free) 0-1 each.

 

Tipperary booked their place in the National Camogie League final for the first time since 2009 with a tremendous victory over defending champions Galway on Sunday.

Bill Mullaney’s side came to Duggan Park with no fear of the league and All-Ireland champions and deservedly came away with the spoils after a highly impressive performance on the day.

Tipperary were the side who displayed the greater hunger and quality throughout, as they booked a first league final appearance since 2009.

Playing with the wind in the opening half, the visitors brought huge intensity and workrate from the throw-in.

The home side opened the scoring with a Niamh Kilkenny point before Tipp equalised within a minute, with Cáit Devane’s first pointed free. Galway scored a good point through Carrie Dolan shortly after.

A minute later however, Tipp received a major boost when Ereena Fryday intercepted a Galway handpass before laying off to Roisín Howard who blasted to the net. Shortly after, Laura Shinners impressively pointed a huge free from behind her own 65.

The girls in blue and gold were gaining in confidence, with Fryday, Howard and Shauna Quirke looking very sharp up front. Cáit Devane at full forward was proving a major handful and she drew a good save from Galway ‘keeper Sarah Healy. Shortly after, Devane scored an excellent point from play.

Healy converted a free for the home side to briefly interrupt Tipp’s momentum. Devane continued to be a thorn in Galway’s side, drawing another foul and converting the free herself.

 

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