Tipp juniors in last chance saloon
CAMOGIE: Littlewoods Ireland National League Division 2 Relegation Semi-Final
Laois 2-10
Tipperary 0-13
Tipperary are down to their final chance to maintain their division 2 status following this semi-final defeat to Laois in Banagher on Saturday.
A clash with Kildare on Saturday 9th April will decide who drops to division 3 after Tipp fell to a Laois side who got off to a perfect start when a long delivery by Aiva Coss found its way to the back of the net inside two minutes.
Tipperary responded well with a point from Clodagh Horgan and there was very little between the sides in the opening half. With 20 minutes gone the sides were level 1-2 to 0-5.
Saoirse McGrath kept the scoreboard ticking over for Tipp from frees but a second Laois goal from Kirsten Keenan gave them the momentum once again. Tipperary continued to work hard and a point from Ciara McKeogh just before half time meant the sides went in at the break level again 2-3 to 0-9.
There were plenty of positives from the Tipp display in the opening half with Amy Crosses excellent in midfield and when moving forward into the attack. Up front Claire Stakelum finished with two points from play, one a beauty from way out on the side-line, while good displays from Caoimhe McCormack and Ciara McKeogh saw them also getting on the scoreboard.
The second half saw little between the sides once again with great battles all over the field including Ciara Cummins at centre forward on Laois’ Clodagh Tynan. A Saoirse McGrath pointed free in the 50th made it a one point game 2-8 to 0-13. Unfortunately for Tipperary though this was to be their final score while Laois finished with two frees from Kirsten Keenan to give them a three-point victory and a crucial first win of the season.
For Laois, Aiva Coss and Grainne Delaney, two players who starred for the Laois minors on their way to the All-Ireland final earlier this year, went straight into the starting team and made big contributions for their side.
For Tipp, Aoibheann Ward and Rachel Maher both played very well in defence. Thirteen wides in total plus five shots that dropped short will no doubt have frustrated the players and management but it’s also a stat they know they can work on and look to rectify.
Laois also got two goals at key moments to make Tipp’s task more and more difficult. While at the opposite end a goal that Tipp really would have benefited from never materialised.
Laois: Aedin Lowry, Karla Whelan, Fiona Scully, Katie Dunican, Leah Daly, Clodagh Tynan (0-1), Jade Bergin; Gemma Hoare, Jessica Quinlan, Alice Walsh, Aimee Collier (0-1), Grainne Delaney (0-3); Grainne Reilly, Kirsten Keenan (1-4, 0-3f) Avia Coss (1-1).
Tipperary: Aoife Butler (Eire Og Annacarty); Maebh Ellie Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs), Rachel Maher (Nenagh Eire Og), Aoibheann Ward (Ballina); Aisling Sheedy (Portroe), Emma Carey (Thurles Sarsfields), Margaret Quigley (Toomevara); Amy Crosse (Cashel King Cormacs), Caoimhe McCormack (Knockavilla Kickhams 0-1); Ciara McKeogh (Burgess/Duharra 0-1), Ciara Cummins (Thurles Sarsfields), Clodagh Horgan (Boherlahan-Dualla 0-1); Caroline Browne (Nenagh Eire Og 0-1), Claire Stakelum (Holycross/Ballycahill 0-2), Saoirse McGrath (Newport/Ballinahinch, 0-7f).
Referee: Cathal McAllister (Cork)