Strong finish propels Tipp past Cork

CAMOGIE: Munster Senior Camogie Championship Quarter Final

Tipperary 1-18

Cork 2-9

Report: Joe Scully at FBD Semple Stadium

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Grace O’Brien (Tipperary).

SCORERS – Tipperary: Eimear McGrath 1-4 (0-3 frees); Grace O’Brien 0-3; Karin Blair, Kate Ralph, Caoimhe Stakelum (1 free), Eimear Heffernan, Jean Kelly 0-2 each; Clodagh McIntyre 0-1.

Cork: Saoirse McCarthy 0-5 (4 frees); Orlaigh Cahalane 1-1; Keeva McCarthy 1-0; Laura Hayes, Sorcha McCartan, Niamh McNabola 0-1 each.

Tipperary did have something to be happy about at Semple Stadium on Sunday as the senior camogie team qualified for the Munster semi-final with a very impressive and deserved six point win over Cork.

Tipp were the better team throughout most of the game, but will be worried with the start of the second half where they went over fifteen minutes without scoring, but once they opened their account for the second period, they came to life yet again and ran out comfortable winners, helped by a big contribution from the bench with both Eimear Heffernan and Jean Kelly hitting two points each, and Caoimhe Maher also impressing after replacing the injured Celine Guinan at the break.

One major worry for the Tipp management will be the fact they hit eleven wides and their efficiency will have to be upped as they go forward, but for now it’s a happy camp as they set up a semi-final against Limerick at SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh next Sunday, prior to the Cork v Limerick senior hurling game.

Tipperary raced into a four-point lead inside the seven minutes with Grace O’Brien opening the scoring with Caoimhe Stakelum adding a second before O’Brien adding her second. Kate Ralph added the fourth after being set up by Roisin Howard.

Cork finally got off the mark in the ninth minute when Sorcha McCartan finished a fine move, but a minute later Karin Blair hit Tipp’s fifth point. Cork hit back with two Saoirse McCarthy points, the first an excellent finish from out by the sideline, and then a free in the 12th minute.

Tipp then hit a purple patch with three in a row, firstly Eimear McGrath overturned Laura Hayes and finished, and then Roisin Howard won possession off a Cork defender before playing the ball to Clodagh McIntyre who finished nicely. Then it was Karin Blair who finished following a fine team move as Tipp lead 0-8 to 0-3 after 22 minutes.

Orlaith Cahalane reduced the gap a minute later before a Kate Ralph effort had Tipp five ahead again.

In the final few seconds of the half, Cork overturned the Tipp defence and Orlaith Cahalane found herself through on goal and finished to the back of the net.

Tipp responded well though and Karin Blair hit the next point but from the resultant puckout, Niamh McNabola made a superb catch and after a strong run pointed as the sides went in at the break with Tipp in front, 0-10 to 1-5.

Cork came out the better team at the start of the second half, and three Saoirse McCarthy frees had them a point ahead by the 38th minute.

Tipperary were struggling to get a foothold in the game and it took until the 45th minute before finally opened their account for the half when sub Eimear Heffernan pointed.

This seemed to settle the home side and two minutes later an Eimear McGrath free from inside her own half had Tipp back in front. A brilliant individual score from Laura Hayes had the sides level with just over ten minutes to play.

A minute later and another long range free from Eimear McGrath had the Premier Ladies back ahead. Cork’s Ava McAuliffe found herself in space close to the goal but a brilliant block from Karen Kennedy denied her a goal.

This seemed to spur Tipp into action with Heffernan adding another point in the 53rd minute, before another McGrath free had Tipp three ahead. In the 57th minute came the games crucial score, following a long ball from Caoimhe Maher, and Niamh Treacy winning it, and she laid the ball off to Eimear McGrath who batted the ball to the back of the net to leave Tipperary 1-15 to 1-9 ahead.

There was nearly an instant response from the Rebelettes but Tipp keeper Laura Leenane pulled off a great double save, firstly from Orlaith Cahalane and then an even better save from Laura Hayes.

Tipp went up the other end and an excellent finish from sub Jean Kelly within seconds of entering the field had the lead out to seven. But Cork weren’t finished yet and struck their second goal in the 62nd minute following a long ball in which Keeva McCarthy caught and finished to the back of the net.

Once again, Tipp responded in fine fashion and Jean Kelly added her second point straight from the next puckout. The scoring wasn’t finished there however, and Tipp extended their lead with the final score of the game in the 64th minute when Caoimhe Stakelum pointed a long range free.

TEAMS – Tipperary: Laura Leenane (Shannon Rovers); Amy Quinlisk (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Mairead Eviston (Drom & Inch), Eimear Loughman (Clonoulty/Rossmore); Karin Blair (Cashel KC), Celine Guinan (Shannon Rovers), Caoimhe McCarthy (Knockavilla-D Kickhams, Capt); Karen Kennedy (Thurles Sarsfields), Kate Ralph (Moycarkey/Borris); Aoife Dwyer (Thurles Sarsfields), Roisin Howard (Cahir), Clodagh McIntyre (Lorrha); Caoimhe Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields), Eimear McGrath (Drom & Inch), Grace O’Brien (Nenagh Eire Og).

Subs: Caoimhe Maher (Burgess/Duharra) for Guinan (HT inj), Eimear Heffernan (Knockavilla-D Kickhams) for Dwyer (38); Lucy Purcell (Thurles Sarsfields) for Ralph (52); Niamh Treacy (Drom & Inch) for Howard (53); Jean Kelly (Eire Og Annacarty/D) for McGrath (59).

Cork: Amy Lee; Meabh Murphy, Libby Coppinger, Meabh Cahalane, Izzy O’Regan, Laura Hayes, Ava Fitzgerald, Millie Condon, Orlaith Cremin, Emma Murphy, Orlaith Cahalane, Saoirse McCarthy, Hayley Ryan, Sorcha McCarthy, Ava McAuliffe.

Subs: Niamh NcNabola for E Murphy (22); Keeva McCarthy for Cremin (43), Cliona O’Callaghan for McAuliffe (51), Rachel Harty for Ryan (56).

Referee: Donncha O’Callaghan (Limerick)