Tipp getting closer but still no cigar

By Enda Treacy

Another tough defeat for Tipperary camogie was the net result of a game where every player in blue and gold left their blood and sweat, and ultimately tears on the field; alas, it still proved not to be enough as they will be left to rue a slew of missed chances in the final quarter with Galway there for the taking.

Tipp were desperately slow to get to the pitch of the game as Galway dominated the opening half with their pace and direct running causing an issue, with Tipperary playing far too deep and this gave them no platform to build an attacking threat as Sarah Dervan and Emma Helebert were commanding in the Galway defence.

Ereena Fryday and Grace O’Brien were out of the game completely and all the breaks were going Galway’s way, but Tipp somehow managed to stay within touching distance of their opponents and when half-time came around, a four-point gap was more than an acceptable deficit based on how the game was transpiring from a Tipperary viewpoint. Half-time was a godsend and whatever Mullaney and his selectors said had the desired effect as a few positional changes and a notable increase in concentration got Tipp back in the running; Cait Devane now moved into full forward alongside Clodagh McIntyre.

Now, the first touch and the link-up play were coming together and the forward division were asking more questions of the Galway defence, with Nicole Walsh, Orla O’Dwyer, and Grace O’Brien now coming storming into play with space opening up time and time again.

Indeed, there were goals there for the taking, and O’Dwyer and McIntyre were proving to have too much pace on a few occasions for their markers but when the crucial moment came when bearing down on the goalie, the wrong decision was made or the execution was lacking as Tipp left chances behind them.

Miriam Campion’s introduction was welcome one as she was holding up possession well and bring others into play and allowing Devane to wander out in the half-forward line.

A few goal chances appeared for Tipperary in quick succession between the 52nd and 56th minute with just two points between the sides, first when McIntyre showed ridiculous pace to get through on goal, but she failed to connect properly with a handpass; and later when Karen Kennedy’s run from deep ended up with Miriam Campion in front of goal, but she was too slow taking on the strike as Sarah Dervan blocked the effort.

These were chances that Tipp needed to take but they were still in the game and despite pushing on and leaving a lot of space in the backline, Tipp were winning the individual battles and come out with the ball time and again which gave them the platform to launch attack after attack.

Dervla Higgins red card two minutes from time for an off the ball incident seemed like it would give Tipperary that extra push to drive on and get in front, but it wasn’t to be and when Orlaith McGrath’s speculative point effort found the net through the hands of goalkeeper Caoimhe Bourke a minute from time, you got that feeling that it was going to be another one of those days for Tipperary.

Ultimately, the lack of that finishing touch in front of goal is what has proven to be the difference for Tipperary on a number of occasions in the last few years, and it is certainly frustrating as the personnel and the gameplan are as good as any team in the country which will make this latest defeat a bitter pill to swallow for players, supporters and management alike.

In the end, it was nearly enough for Tipperary to take a scalp from one of the Big 3 but it wasn’t to be as the wait for that elusive All-Ireland final appearance will have to wait for at least another year as Galway and Cork will once again lock horns in the final.