Camogie Zone
The late Dillion Quirke: Like the rest of the country everyone involved in camogie in Tipperary were devastated and shocked to hear of the untimely passing of Clonoulty/Rossmore and Tipperary Senior hurler Dillion Quirke.
Tipperary Camogie extends its deepest sympathies to Dillion’s parents Dan and Hazel and his sisters Shannon and Kellie and to all his extended family, friends, and teammates. Our heartfelt condolences to all in Clonoulty Rossmore GAA. Our thoughts this week are with the Kilruane MacDonagh players also.
As a mark of respect all camogie games due to take place at the weekend and on Monday were called off. May Dillion rest in peace.
All-Ireland U14 Development Blitzes: On Saturday 3 Tipperary U14 Development Squads travelled to Dublin and Meath to take part in the All-Ireland U14 Blitzes.
Tipperary ‘A’ are Shield winners after beating Wexford 2-8 to 2-3 in their final. Tipperary were drawn in a very tough group with Kilkenny, Galway, and Limerick. First up in Abbottstown was a clash with Kilkenny. Tipperary began with two super goals by Clodagh Shinners and Abbie Horgan, but Kilkenny hit back with 1-2. Doireann Ryan hit two points on the trot to give Tipperary a one-point half time lead. Another goal and a point by Tipp gave them a five-point cushion and a ‘back-to-the-wall’ defensive performance in the second half produced a one-point win.
Next up was Galway. A tight first half saw Tipperary go in at half time down by one point but unfortunately Tipp missed several scoring chances due to Galway’s strong defending skills. Galway won by three points.
Tipperary needed a big win in final game v Limerick to improve their scoring difference, but it was Limerick who led at half-time. An Abbie Horgan free from 50m gave Tipperary a one-point victory and two wins in the group stages. However, this was not enough and although we beat eventual All Ireland champions Kilkenny in round 1, it was a Kilkenny v Cork final due to superior score difference.
In the ‘A’ Shield final, Tipperary raced into a 2-5 to 0-0 halftime lead with Wexford making a second half recovery scoring two goals, but Tipperary eased to a five-point victory. Congrats to all.
‘A’ panel: Ola Wasilyk (Ballina), Tori Doyle (St Rita’s, Fethard), Sinead Lonergan (Ballybacon/Grange), Ella Frend (Toomevara), Malvina Dziewaitka (Burgess/Duharra), Ciara Cahill (Drom & Inch), Kellie O’Dwyer (Silvermines), Emma Kennedy (Lorrha), Abi Kelly (Borris-Ileigh), Abbie Horgan (Boherlahan-Dualla), Ailbhe Treacy (Silvermines), Clodagh Shinners (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Doireann Ryan (Boherlahan-Dualla), Isabelle Kingston (Kiladangan), Kate Nevin (Templemore), Niamh Craddock (Holycross/Ballycahill), Emer Duggan (Holycross/Ballycahill), Emma Bonnar (Cashel King Cormacs), Emily McGrath (Brian Borus), Julie Grey (Templemore).
Tipperary ‘B’ were in a group with Galway, Kilkenny, and Laois. They had a blistering start with a great win over Galway, 0-6 no score. The brilliant free-taking by Aoife Quirke converting five points and a super point from play by Amy O’Connor. The backs were fantastic lead by Lucy Maher at centre back.
Game 2 was against Kilkenny where Tipp won 1-3 to 0-1 with Eibhlin Burke getting the goal with Aoife Quirke scoring two points from frees and Amy O’Connor getting the other.
Game 3 was against Laois first team. Tipp needed a win or a draw to make the final.
It was Laois who got the better start with 1-1 on the board after five minutes. With a few positional changes moving Emer Brennan to wing back and Alice Purcell to midfield, Tipp’s first point was a brilliant score from Faye Lavin followed by an Aoife Quirke score before Sarah Williams goaled. Just when Tipp were getting on top Laois got in for another goal to go two points up with three minutes left.
With time against them, Tipp worked the ball up the field and won a free which Aoife Quirke popped over the bar. A must win puck out by Tipp, Laurie Mullen and Aoife Quirke worked the ball through and won a free and with the last puck of the game, Quirke popped it over to set up a final with Dublin.
Dublin got off to a blistering start, with 1-2 on the board before Tipp registered its first score, Aoife Quirke was dragged down in the square and a penalty ensued and she struck it well but just went over the crossbar. Tipp started to run at the Dublin backs and Eibhlin Burke was dragged down, and Quirke converted the free before Michelle Lee blasted to the net to being the sides level. With just with three minutes to go, Dublin got their third point for the lead. Tipp battled hard to the final whistle but just couldn’t get the equaliser.
‘B’ panel: Roisin Ferncombe (Clonoulty/Rossmore), Brid Quirke (Boherlahan-Dualla), Ciara Breen Keane (Knockavilla Kickhams), Hannah O’Carroll (Eire Og Annacarty), Brid Delaney (Templemore), Jenna Hackett (Toomevara), Lucy Maher (Shannon Rovers), Alice Purcell (Ballybacon/Grange), Sarah Williams (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Alex Smith (Brian Borus), Laurie Mullen (Drom & Inch), Amy O’Connor (Cahir), Aoife Quirke (Cahir), Michelle Lee (Slieve Felim Rapparees), Erin O’Donnell (Moyle Rovers), Emer Brennan (Moyle Rovers), Eibhlin Bourke (Newport/Ballinahinch), Kate Ryan Corcoran (Eire Og Annacarty), Faye Lavin (St Rita’s Fethard), Grace Flanagan (Moycarkey/Borris), Sophie Moynihan (Boherlahan-Dualla), Grace Stapleton (Moycarkey/Borris).
Tipperary ‘C’ made the long trip to Trim for a tightly contested blitz involving eight counties. First up was Galway C. Tipp started with great intensity and got some great scores to lead by 0-4 to no score at half time. They followed this up with quick
start in second half to dominate Galway to win 0-9 to 0-2.
Next up was Down A who had lost a tight match against Dublin in round 1. Down played with the wind and enforced their style to lead 1-3 to 0-1 at half time. Tipp got going well in second half but could not match the energy and fielding by Down who scored another goal at the end. Final score 2-4 to 0-4.
The Final group game was against Dublin C with both teams needing the win. A close an evenly matched game followed with scores hard to come by. Dublin led near the end by two points as Tipp looked for the goal and Grace Cleary pulled on a ground ball to rattle the net and Tipp sealed the win. All three teams ended on the same points, so order was finalized by scoring difference with the final down goal crucial. Tipp set themselves for an eagerly contested final against their Munster neighbours Waterford. Tipp started well in the final to lead by 1-1 to 0-1 at half time with both sides showing great quality. Waterford
threw everything at Tipp in the final few minutes and were awarded a penalty which was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Ellen Ryan. Tipp players were out on their feet but saw the game out to win! Captain for the match Emma Costello joyfully accepted the Sophie Brack Plate on behalf of the squad and thanked the organisers, Players, coaches, and supporters.
‘C’ panel: Ellen Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs), Anna Kennedy (Shannon Rovers), Kara O’Carroll (Burgess/Duharra), Orla Gleeson (Knockavilla Kickhams), Amy Fitzgerald (Eire Og Annacarty), Ciara Crofton (St Cronan’s), Eabha McGrath (Silvermines), Emma Costello (Shannon Rovers), Grace Murphy (Drom & Inch), Grace Cleary (Nenagh Eire Og), Saoirse McLoughlin (Ballina), Sarah Rochford (Gortnahoe/Glengoole), Niamh Kelly (Kiladangan), Ruby Kelly (Knockavilla Kickhams), Margaret Cleary (Shannon Rovers), Ella O’Meara (Lorrha), Katelyn Deane (Moneygall), Emma Kiely (Moyle Rovers), Jessica Davis (Cahir), Sarah Dunne (Ballina).
Tipperary Under 14 Development Squad management: Philly Ryan, Marie Corbett, Caroline O’Meara, Julie Delaney, Brian O’Dwyer, Seamus Delaney, Michael Cleary, Niall Crofton, Tommy Quirke.