Tipp fight back to earn draw
Tipperary 1-9
Westmeath 0-12
It was a case of mixed feelings for Tipperary at the final whistle in Saturday’s National Camogie League Division 2 clash with Westmeath which was played in Rathdowney.
On the one hand having snatched a draw in the dying minutes against a Westmeath side who led for the majority of the match was a very good result. However, on the other hand, it was a game that could have been won with some crucial scoring chances missed as well as claims for a late free that wasn’t given.
The Tipp side certainly finished the strongest of the two teams limiting Westmeath to just two second half points and finishing the game with a trio of scores that put them in the driving seat for victory. The final attack failed to yield a score when Ciara McKeogh looked to be fouled before referee John McDonagh sounded the final whistle.
Top scorer Aoife McLoughney got the games’ first score with a well-taken free. Westmeath responded through a Maria Kelly point and soon took the lead when the industrious Sheila McGrath pointed.
Playing with the aid of a strong wind Westmeath suffered a big setback when Ciara Cummins chased a long delivery into the square and flicked the ball passed Fiona Keating in the Westmeath goal.
Westmeath then hit a purple patch with a brace of points as their attack started to open the Tipp defence. Maria Kelly, Sheila McGrath and Louise O’Connor all raising white flags to give them a half time lead of 0-10 to 1-2.
Tipperary finished the half well with Ciara McKeogh and Caroline Browne winning plenty of possession in the middle of the field. They should have had further scores on the board, but a couple of shots went agonisingly wide or dropped short while a great goal chance by Emily Morrissey hit the side netting.
Playing with the wind in the second half the premier side started to really grow in confidence with the half backline of Amy Crosse, Emma Carey and Aisling Sheedy excelling. Tipperary began to cut into the Westmeath lead with scores from the always threatening McLoughney and Leah Heffernan. Sheila McGrath got her fourth point in the 47th minute to keep three points between the sides.
An Aoife McLoughney 45 was followed by an Emma Broughan point for Westmeath as the intensity of the game lifted and supporters were treated to an exciting finish.
With 54 minutes gone and still three points between the sides, Tipperary drove at the Westmeath defence in search of more scores. The workrate of the forward line was excellent as they turned over ball getting in lots of hooks and blocks resulting in three unanswered points from Aoife McLoughney (2) and Caroline Browne to level proceedings.
In the end the draw was the fairest result between two sides eager to get their first win of the campaign after first round losses. Next up for Tipp is a final group game against Waterford at home on Saturday 12th March.
Tipperary: Aoife Butler (Eire Og Annacarty); Maebh Ellie Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs), Rachel Maher (Nenagh Eire Og), Aoibheann Ward (Ballina); Amy Crosse (Cashel King Cormacs), Emma Carey (Thurles Sarsfields), Aisling Sheedy (Portroe); Ciara McKeogh (Burgess/Duharra), Caroline Browne (Nenagh Eire Og 0-1); Ciara Cummins (Thurles Sarsfields 1-0), Clodagh Horgan (Boherlahan-Dualla, Capt), Aoife McLoughney (Shannon Rovers 0-7, 4f, 1 45); Leah Heffernan (Eire Og Annacarty, 0-1), Rachel O’Dwyer (Eire Og Annacarty), Emily Morrissey (Burgess/Duharra).
Sub: Saoirse McGrath (Newport/Ballinahinch) for Morrissey.
Westmeath: Fiona Keating; Darian Corcoran, Emily McCabe, Aisling Egerton; Dearbhail McLoughlin, Megan Dowdall (0-1f), Caitríona O’Brien; Áine Newman, Sheila McGrath (0-4); Louise O’Connor (0-1), Maria Kelly (0-2), Holly Dowdall; Emma Broughan (0-1), Amelia Shaw (0-2, 1f), Olivia Glynn (0-1).
Subs: Denise McGrath for Glynn, Karen Gaffney for H Dowdall, Sandra McGrath for M Dowdall (inj).
Referee: John McDonagh (Galway).