Tipp keep the foot down in easing past Clare

CAMOGIE: Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Championship Group 1 Round 5

Tipperary 4-17

Clare 0-10

Report: Joe Scully at FBD Semple Stadium

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Karen Kennedy (Tipperary).

SCORERS – Tipperary: Grace O’Brien 0-9 (5 frees); Casey Hennessy 2-1; Mary Burke 2-0; Jean Kelly 0-2; Karin Blair, Karen Kennedy, Caoimhe Maher, Eimear Heffernan, Clodagh McIntyre 0-1 each.

Clare: Zi Yan Spillane 0-3 frees; Clare Hehir (1 free), Roisin Begley 0-2 each; Caoimhe Cahill, Andrea O’Keeffe, Aisling Cooney 0-1 each.

Tipperary ran out comfortable nineteen-point winners against a gallant Clare side in their final group game in the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship on Saturday afternoon.

This win means Denis Kelly’s side finish second in their group and sets up a quarter final with rivals Kilkenny next Sunday as part of a double header with the All-Ireland hurling semi-final between the same two counties at Croke Park.

It is a third win on the trot for the Premier Ladies after a disappointing opening round defeat at the hands of Cork, and they seem to be coming good at just the right time as they look to go all the way to All-Ireland glory next month.

Saturday’s game was never in much doubt particularly after a two-minute goal salvo in the 23rd & 26th minutes, which put the game to bed.

While Tipp will be delighted with the manner of the win, especially with how well they played defensively, conceding just ten points but more impressively only allowing eighteen shots on goal, as they defended brilliantly over the hour.

However, they will also know there is still work to be done as they face into what will be a tougher fixture next weekend where the year really becomes do or die and there will be no more second chances as we reach the business end of the championship.

Clare hit the front after just 55 seconds through Roisin Begley, but Tipp would be level just over a minute later, when Karen Kennedy finished off a fine team move with a trademark run and finish.

The home side were ahead soon after following brilliant play from Casey Hennessy to chase back and win the ball, back before it was worked to Eimear Heffernan who finished over the black spot.

Grace O’Brien, who has been in sensational form all year, added a third point from out by the sideline, before Clare responded through a Clare Hehir effort from play.

O’Brien added a free before Karin Blair went on another sauntering run up field before finishing.

Zi Yan Spillane added a free for the Banner before Tipp got in for their first goal in the twelfth minute when Grace O’Brien won the ball and lost her hurley before laying off a pass to the onrushing Mary Burke who ran in on goal before hitting a bullet to the back of the net.

An O’Brien free and Casey Hennessy extended the lead, before a long range free from Clare Hehir left the score at 1-7 to 0-4 after 18 minutes.

Caoimhe Maher extended the lead, before two goals in three minutes had the gap out to thirteen. Firstly, Casey Hennessy with a great finish from a tight angle, and then Mary Burke got her second goal following an Eimear Heffernan free which dropped short and after a scramble the Drom & Inch native pulled on the ball, and it found its way to the back of the net.

Spillane responded with a free for Clare, before a fine individual score from Grace O’Brien in added time left the score at the break, 3-9 to 0-5 in favour of Tipperary.

Just like the first half, it was Clare who scored first through Roisin Begley, which was responded by an O’Brien 45, before Spillane pointed a free for Clare.

Tipp would then hit 1-2 without reply, a point each from Clodagh McIntyre after a fine move, and then O’Brien from a dead-ball, before Casey Hennessy scored her second and Tipp’s fourth goal, after Roisin Howard won possession deep in the Clare half and passed to Hennessy who buried the ball to the back of the net.

Caoimhe Cahill responded for Clare, before Tipp sub Jean Kelly pointed after a fine catch and turn and was followed up shortly after by another O’Brien effort following a quickly taken free from Eimear Heffernan.

Aisling Cooney and Grace O’Brien traded points, before Clare’s Jennifer Daly received her marching orders for a foul on O’Brien, and the Nenagh native pointed the resultant free.

Andrea O’Keefe moved Clare into double figures with a superb effort following a strong run, and the Banner had a great chance for goal in added time when Aisling Cooney found herself in loads of space thirteen metres out but her shot lacked any real power and was easily saved by Laura Leenane in the Tipp goal.

The final say went to Jean Kelly with the best score of the game as a Leenane puckout into space allowed Kelly to run onto the ball out by the sideline and under severe pressure from two Clare defenders, she pointed brilliantly.

TEAMS – Tipperary: Laura Leenane (Shannon Rovers); Niamh Costigan (Cahir), Karin Blair (Cashel King Cormacs), Eimear Loughman (Clonoulty/Rossmore); Caoimhe McCarthy (Knockavilla-D Kickhams), Mairead Eviston (Drom & Inch), Sarah Corcoran (Moycarkey/Borris); Karen Kennedy (Thurles Sarsfields, Capt), Caoimhe Maher (Burgess/Duharra); Roisin Howard (Cahir), Mary Burke (Drom & Inch), Eimear Heffernan (Knockavilla-D Kickhams); Clodagh McIntyre (Lorrha), Casey Hennessy (Clonoulty/Rossmore), Grace O’Brien (Nenagh Eire Og).

Subs: Julieanne Bourke (Borris-Ileigh) for McCarthy (HT); Emma Carey (Thurles Sarsfields) for Costigan (43); Jean Kelly (Eire Og Annacarty/D) for Hennessy (43); Amy Quinlisk (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for Howard (47); Niamh Cunneen (Silvermines) for McIntyre (47); Aoife McGrath (Drom & Inch) for Blair (49).

Clare: Doireann Murphy; Susan Daly, Clare Hehir, Sinead O’Keeffe; Lynda Daly, Abby Walsh, Danielle Griffin; Niamh Mulqueen, Caoimhe Carmody; Caoimhe Cahill, Grace Carmody, Jennifer Daly; Róisín Begley, Aine O’Loughlin, Zi Yan Spillane.

Subs: Cliodhna Queally for Mulqueen (19 inj); Aoife Anderson for G Carmody (HT); Andrea O’Keefe for O’Keeffe (HT), Ellen Casey for Spillane (41); Ciara Grogan for C Carmody (43), Aisling Cooney for O’Loughlin (49).

Referee: Barry Nea (Westmeath).