Minors need season’s best to reach All-Ireland final
CAMOGIE: Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor ‘A’ Championship Semi-Final Preview
By Joe Scully
GALWAY v TIPPERARY
Castletown-Geoghegan
Saturday, 11th April
Throw-in @ 2.00pm
Referee: Brian Kearney (Kildare)
All roads lead to Castletown-Geoghegan on Saturday as the All-Ireland Minor ‘A’ Camogie Championship reaches fever point, as Tipperary and Galway face off in the semi-final, just two weeks after squaring off against each other in the final game of the group stage.
The tribeswomen were too strong for Tipp that day emerging victorious by an eight-point margin. While that might have been a bit harsh on Tipp who were more than a match for Galway for most of the first half, the concession of two goals either side of half time proved the difference as Galway took control for the rest of the game.
It has been a mixed campaign so far for Tipperary, who started with a defeat to Limerick in the Munster semi-final. They started their All-Ireland campaign in fine fashion with a win over Munster champions Cork, before suffering a fourteen point defeat at the hands of defending champions Kilkenny, but bounced back with two wins in a row, firstly away to Dublin, before securing their place in the semi-final by gaining revenge over Limerick with a two point win, before suffering another defeat against Galway last time out.
Galway will go into this rematch as favourites, but Tipp will fancy their chances of qualifying for a first All-Ireland final since their 2024 success, but they know they will have to improve from the last outing if they are to pull off what would be an upset victory.
One area they will need to be better in is stopping the Galway running game, which caused them all sorts of problems last time out, and played a massive part in both goals.
Also, they will have to improve the quality of ball going into their forwards because at times throughout the year it has been aimless, but when they do get good ball in they have the quality with the likes of Ailbhe Treacy, Abbie Horgan, Neasa Dwan and Alice Butler all capable of causing major damage.
Another key player for Tipperary is centre back and captain Ciara Cahill who has been their best player so far, with her ability to read the game and be in the right position at the right time. If Tipp are to have any chance the Drom & Inch native will have to be at her best.
Tipp have definitely shown signs of improvement as the year has gone on and have grown in confidence too, but face a huge task on Saturday to reach an All-Ireland final.
They definitely have it in them to come out with a big victory if they bring their ‘A’ game. As manager Ray Ralph said in the aftermath of the last game between the two sides: “we now have two weeks to go away and come up with a plan to turn around the eight point deficit, if we are to get into an All-Ireland final and Saturday will, tell if they were able to.”
Tipperary Minor Camogie panel
CAPTAIN: Ciara Cahill - Drom & Inch; Emma Bonner – Cashel King Cormacs; Alice Butler – Slieve Felim Rapparees; Grace Cleary – Nenagh Eire Og; Clodagh Davis – Shannon Rovers; Eavann Duffy – Moyle Rovers; Neasa Dwan – Boherlahan-Dualla; Ava Fanning – Borris-Ileigh; Kate Fox – St Patrick’s; Ella Frend - Toomevara; Evanne Gleeson – Boherlahan-Dualla; Abbie Horgan – Boherlahan-Dualla; Isabelle Kingston - Kiladangan; Leah Maher – Boherlahan-Dualla; Kate Nevin - Templemore; Erin O’Donnell - Moyle Rovers; Sara Jayne Ormond – Drom & Inch; Eva Ralph – Moycarkey/Borris; Kaelinn Rossiter – Thurles Sarsfields; Doireann Ryan – Boherlahan-Dualla; Eimear Ryan – Gortnahoe/Glengoole; Jessie Shanahan - Slieve Felim Rapparees; Grace Stapleton – Borris-Ileigh; Ailbhe Treacy – Silvermines; Carly Walsh – Nenagh Eire Og.