Perfect start for Tipp against league holders
CAMOGIE: Very National League Division 1A Round 1
Tipperary 4-9
Galway 1-9
Report: Liam Hogan at the Camogie grounds
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Juliane Bourke (Tipperary)
SCORERS - Tipperary: Eimear McGrath 0-6 (5 frees); Karen Kennedy, Courtney Ryan, Annie Fahie 1-0 each; Caoimhe Maher 0-2; Cait Devane 0-1.
Galway: Carrie Dolan 1-5 (1-3 frees); Ailish O’Reilly 0-2 (1 free, 1 45); Aine Keane, Niamh McPeake 0-1 each.
In the majority of cases, the appointment of a manager can be a positive one and last Saturday proved such an occasion when Tipperary, under new boss Denis Kelly, secured an impressive victory over defending champions Galway in the opening round of the National Camogie League.
It was exactly what the new manager would have wanted to start with two valuable league points secured approaching half time after goals in the 25th & 29th minutes by Roisin Howard and Courtney Ryan which put Tipp 3-6 to 1-3 in front.
Galway, however, did stage a second half recovery, only to find a very solid Tipperary defence doing its job although the home side would be disappointed with the number of frees conceded which reached eleven in addition to the five in the first half, not to mention five yellow cards issued to the Tipp side as opposed to two for Galway.
Kelly would have to be pleased where first touch and plenty of running held sway for his side’s victory but after the game he admitted that Galway were short a number of regulars including goalkeeper Sarah Healy, Sarah Dervan, Orlaith McGrath, Niamh Kilkenny, Sarah Spellman, Siobhan McGrath, Rebecca Hennelly, Catherine Finnerty and Marie Cooney, leaving players like Shauna Healy, Emma Helebert Niamh Hanniffy and Carrie Dolan in charge.
Then again, Tipperary were short some regulars also as of the team that played their final championship game against Cork last year, there were seven absentees with Aine Slattery, Cait Devane, Mary Ryan, Clodagh McIntyre, Ereena Friday, Aoife McGrath and Ciardha Maher missing out. Of the seven, Cait Devane vacated the bench in the 45th minute and marked her appearance with a point.
To add to the positive spin, it was heartening to see the return of Karen Kennedy at centre back. The 2021 All-Star didn’t disappoint and wasted time in making an impression when setting up the game’s first score, a goal in the fourth minute when the Thurles Sarsfields club-woman went on a great run before playing a one-two with full forward Courtney Ryan, allowing the centre back to find the net.
One minute later, Kennedy was harshly booked for a foul on Rachel Hanniffy. Carrie Dolan stood over the free but her effort dropped short and deceived goalkeeper Caoimhe Bourke and into the net.
However, Tipp recovered quickly and with impressive movement and good ball control they quickly established their worth. With play on the physical side (all fair) the concession of frees by Galway didn’t help their cause and in Eimear McGrath, Tipp had the perfect riposte as her accuracy was unerring with two successful frees coming in the seventh & eleventh minutes. She added a point from play in the fourteenth minute with her fourth point (free) coming two minutes later.
Galway had their moments, but the Tipp defence held firm with joint-captains Karen Kennedy and Clodagh Quirke, plus the tight marking Julieanne Bourke and Eimear Loughman giving little away while Caoimhe Bourke redeemed herself with vigilance in the Tipp goal.
In the meantime, Carrie Dolan pointed a free for Galway but Tipp continued to dominate and in the 20th minute, a good run by midfielder Grace O’Brien led to a goal for Roisin Howard from close range.
Carrie Dolan replied with a free two minutes later before Caoimhe Bourke produced a good save and when Tipp attacked once more, they increased their lead with a McGrath free quickly followed by a Courtney Ryan goal which came after she met the rebound after Galway keeper Fiona Ryan denied Teresa Ryan. Ryan’s return from Australia was also a positive for Tipp.
At half time, Tipp led by nine points, but the visitors, now helped by the strong diagonal breeze took the game to Tipp but the westerners scored only one free through Carrie Dolan in the 33rd minute.
Two minutes later, Caoimhe Maher scored a point in a move that could have produced much more judging by the number of players involved with Mairead Eviston and Casey Hennessy in the middle part of the move.
The play in the next ten minutes lost some of its tempo due to the stop-start nature with subs introduced before Caoimhe Maher doubled her point tally before Carrie Dolan hit back with two converted frees.
The Galway defence had much more success with Shauna Healy, Roisin Black and Emma Helebert doing well. With that much possession the need for a goal was uppermost in their minds but the Tipp defence stood firm with Clodagh Quirke, Karin Blair, Julieanne Bourke and Eimear Loughman defiant.
As a result of their latest rescue, the Tipp side came forward produced a good move which ended with debutante Annie Fahie’s ground stroke finishing in the back of the Galway net.
Galway reacted and won two 45’s, one a result of a good save by Caoimhe Bourke which Ailish O’Reilly converted. Cait Devane replied with a point from play, but Galway came one more time with O’Reilly pointing a free but by then the result has been long since determined.
TEAMS - Tipperary: Carmel Bourke (Drom & Inch 7); Julieanne Bourke (Borris-Ileigh 8), Clodagh Quirke (Clonoulty/Rossmore 7), Eimear Loughman (Clonoulty/Rossmore 8); Karin Blair (Cashel King Cormacs 7), Karen Kennedy (Thurles Sarsfields 8), Mairead Eviston (Drom & Inch 7); Teresa Ryan (Borris-Ileigh 7), Casey Hennessy (Clonoulty/Rossmore 7); Roisin Howard (Cahir 7), Caoimhe Maher (Burgess/Duharra 8), Grace O’Brien (Nenagh Eire Og 7); Eimear McGrath (Drom & Inch 7), Courtney Ryan (Clonoulty/Rossmore 7), Eimear Heffernan (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams 7).
Subs: Grace Moloney (Cashel King Cormacs 6) for Hennessy (40); Mary Bourke (Drom & Inch 6) for Blair (42); Cait Devane (Clonoulty/Rossmore 7) for C Ryan (45); Niamh Treacy (Drom & Inch 6) for Heffernan (47); Annie Fahie (Cashel King Cormacs 7) for O’Brien (53); Ciara Brennan (St. Cillian’s NR) for Eviston (53).
Galway: Fiona Ryan (6); Katie Anna Porter (6), Shauna Healy (7), Siobhan Gardiner (7); Roisin Black (7), Emma Helebert (7), Aoife Donoghue (7); Jennifer Hughes (6), Rachael Hanniffy (7); Carrie Dolan (7), Niamh Hanniffy (6), Ciara Hickey (6); Aine Keane (6), Niamh McPeake (6), Ailish O’Reilly (6).
Subs: Sabina Rabbitte for Hickey (blood 19-21); Sabina Rabbitte for Hughes (HT); Niamh Nilan (6) for Porter (HT); Shannon Corcoran (6) for Dolan (56); Laura Kelly (6) for McPeake (56); Lisa Casserly (6) for Hickey (56).
Referee: Andy Larkin (Cork).