Improved workrate is pleasing Tipp boss Kelly

By Joe Scully

It was a happy Denis Kelly speaking after his sides nineteen-point victory over Clare in their final group game of the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship on Saturday.

A win that now sets up a quarter final clash with neighbours Kilkenny in Croke Park on Sunday, a spart of a double header with the All-Ireland hurling semi-final between he same two sides.

“Happy enough, nice little win, got a good workout,” he began.

“It was tight for the opening period, and then we kind of pulled away.

“The goals definitely helped us, so good to get through the game.

“Most of the panel are going to be okay, there are no major injuries by the looks of it, but good to get through that one and now to get ready for next weekend.”

Both teams had already booked a place in the quarter finals ahead of the game which would determine who finishes second and third in the group.

“There probably was a bit of a gulf in class out there today, like Clare tried they’re hardest, but we were just that little bit stronger today,” Kelly added.

“There are still things we can work on, we lacked sharpness in areas, but overall just happy to get the job done.”

“Kilkenny will be a tough one next weekend, we probably overdid it at times coming out of defence, overcarrying and running into trouble.

“We will have a look back at the video and go back through it, obviously it’s a quick turnaround just seven days, and we have a lot of work to do in the next seven days.

“Obviously, it’s a double header with the hurlers, so it will be good to have a Tipp crowd behind us next week, Clare definitely had the crowd today, but thankfully we didn’t give them much to shout about.”

Kelly was also delighted with his sides defence and is very pleased with how well they have played all year.

“They had a buffer of a sweeper today in the first half, and then part of the second half they pushed on, but I felt we were comfortable enough,” he felt.

“Our defence has been very solid, not just today, but all year, and we will have to be the same again next week against Kilkenny, because that will be another step up in quality.”

The primary school teacher, is also happy with the options available to him in the squad and feels there is great depth to call upon if needed.

“When you have a team like that and they are working there socks off, it’s going to be tough to last the full sixty minutes, but the fitness levels are really good,” he continued.

“The girls work as hard as there able, and it’s good to get the reinforcements in to finish the job, and that is what we have, which is great.

“We have girls who didn’t get on today that could feature next weekend, and that’s just the type of panel we have and we’re just trying to give everyone a look in and see how we go from there.”

All roads lead to Croke Park for Tipperary as they look to make it to a third All-Ireland semi-final in a row and give themselves a chance to break their last four hoodoo of recent years.