Rare win over Kilkenny has Tipp on cusp of League final

It is now three victories in a row for Tipp who have bounced back in fine style from their opening day defeat to Waterford and are now in a very strong position to qualify for a first senior national camogie decider since 2009

CAMOGIE: Very Ireland National League Division 1A Round 4

Kilkenny 1-6

Tipperary 2-12

Report: Joe Scully at UPMC Nowlan Park, Kilkenny

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Caoimhe McCarthy (Tipperary).

SCORERS – Kilkenny: Katie Power 1-1; Sophie O’Dwyer 0-2 frees; Asha McHardy, Steffi Fitzgerald, Aoife Prendergast (free) 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Eimear McGrath 0-7 (6 frees); Casey Hennessy 1-1; Karen Kennedy 1-0; Caoimhe McCarthy, Roisin Howard, Niamh Treacy, Grace O’Brien (free) 0-1 each.

Another strong second half performance from Tipperary saw them cruise to a rare victory over great rivals Kilkenny on Saturday afternoon in round 4 of the National Camogie League Division 1.

It is now three victories in a row for Tipp who have bounced back in fine style from their opening day defeat to Waterford and are now in a very strong position to qualify for a first senior national camogie decider since 2009, with just one round of games to play.

While the sun was shining on Saturday, conditions were far from ideal thanks to a swirling breeze which was very strong, and never really favoured any side throughout as it seemed to change direction on several occasions, although the pitch itself was in excellent condition.

The first half was a bit of a slow-burner with the defensives very much on top with scores for either side at a premium with neither side really getting any momentum.

Tipp were slow to get out of the blocks and will be very disappointed with their first half performance, even though they did go into the break with a two-point lead thanks to a very impressive goal from captain Karen Kennedy in the 27th minute which was a huge turning point in the game.

This victory was built on an excellent defensive performance as they limited Kilkenny to just seven scores, and kept them scoreless from the 23rd to the 55th minute with the half-back line of Caoimhe McCarthy, Caoimhe Maher and Clodagh McIntyre outstanding.

While the game wasn’t the highest scoring, it was a high-quality encounter with some excellent skill on show from both sides and some fine high fielding as well, and both teams deserve great credit for a highly entertaining hour of camogie.

Tipperary were first on the scoresheet in the fourth minute when Eimear McGrath pointed a free. The home side, though, were ahead a minute later through a Katie Power goal after good build-up play and a powerful finish past Nicole Walsh. Aoife Prendergast had the lead out to three in the tenth minute.

Casey Hennessy went close to a goal for the away side, but her shot was saved by Roisin Breen in the Kilkenny goal. Tipperary would have the gap back to a point in the 21st minute after two points in the space of a minute from wing back Caoimhe McCarthy and then a free from McGrath.

The Cats responded with an Asha McHardy effort from play just two minutes later to leave it at 1-2 to 0-3 after 24 minutes. McGrath hit another free in the 26th minute before Karen Kennedy goaled after an excellent side-line ball was played into her and she plucked ball brilliantly out of the air, before turning her marker and smashing to the back of the net, for the last score of the half, leaving her side up by two at the break, 1-4 to 1-2.

Whatever was said in the Tipp dressing room at the break worked a treat as they came out a different side in the second half and would hit 1-5 without reply to put the game beyond Kilkenny.

Niamh Treacy opened the scoring from play in the second minute and was followed up by a Casey Hennessy point. Eimear McGrath tagged on two more frees to put her side six points up. Casey Hennessy then stepped up to the mark hitting a point from play in the 42nd minute and followed it up with a fine goal a minute later, after a good solo run.

Kilkenny replied two minutes later with their first score in over thirty minutes through Steffi Fitzgerald, but any hint of a comeback was quickly put to bed when Eimear McGrath added two more to her own personal tally from a free and play.

The away side would start emptying their bench and took their foot off the pedal a little bit in the final ten minutes and Kilkenny would hit the next three scores with Katie Power from play and two frees from substitute Sophie O’Dwyer.

However, the final say in the game went to a Tipperary substitute when Grace O’Brien pointed from a free in added time. The drama was far from over, however, as Kilkenny were awarded a penalty in the 63rd minute after Eimear Loughman fouled Katie Power, but O’Dwyer’s penalty was well saved by Nicole Walsh in the Tipp goal as they ran out nine-point winners.

Next up for the Premier women is a trip to Clare next weekend in their final group game, knowing a win will put them into a league final.

TEAMS – Kilkenny: Roisin Breen (6); Michelle Teehan (7), Tiffanie Fitzgerald (7), Katie Byrne (6); Niamh Phelan (7), Niamh Deely (7), Miriam Bambrick (6); Laura Norris (6), Keera Ryan (6); Asha McHardy (7), Steffi Fitzgerald (6), Julianne Malone (6), Katie Nolan (6), Katie Power (8), Aoife Prendergast (7).

Subs: Kellyann Doyle (6) for Ryan (37); Sophie O’Dwyer (7) for McHardy (40); Emma Shortall (6) for Prendergast (49); Caoimhe Keher Murtagh (6) for Nolan (53); Sinead O’Keefe (NR) for Norris (56).

Tipperary: Nicole Walsh (Borris-Ileigh 7); Karin Blair (Cashel King Cormacs 6), Mairead Eviston (Drom & Inch 7), Eimear Loughman (Clonoulty/Rossmore 6); Caoimhe McCarthy (Knockavilla-D Kickhams 9), Karen Kennedy (Thurles Sarsfields Capt 8), Clodagh McIntyre (Lorrha 8); Teresa Ryan (Borris-Ileigh 7), Ellen Cunneen (Silvermines 7); Roisin Howard (Cahir 7), Caoimhe Maher (Burgess/Duharra 8), Casey Hennessy (Clonoulty/Rossmore 7); Niamh Treacy (Drom & Inch 6), Eimear McGrath (Drom & Inch 7), Eimear Heffernan (Knockavilla-D Kickhams 7).

Subs: Julie-Anne Bourke (Borris-Ileigh 6) for Cunneen (44); Grace O’Brien (Nenagh Eire Og 7) for Treacy (46); Clodagh Quirke (Clonoulty/Rossmore 6) for Ryan (49); Jean Kelly (Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill 6) for McGrath (51); Mary Ryan (Moneygall 6) for McIntyre (53); Celine Guinan (Shannon Rovers NR) for Kennedy (57); Aoife McGrath (Drom & Inch NR) for Blair (57).

Referee: Justin Heffernan (Wexford).