Juniors return from Mayo with win

CAMOGIE: Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Junior Championship Group 2 Round 2

Mayo 0-7

Tipperary 0-18

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Grace Moloney (Tipperary)

SCORERS – Mayo: Meabh Delaney (2 frees, 1 45), Fionnuala McLaughlin 0-3 each; Helen O’Malley, Ciara Delaney (free) 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Aoife McLoughney 0-8 frees; Grace Moloney 0-4; Sinead Meagher, Alison O’Mahony 0-2 each; Ciara Cummins, Leah O’Connor 0-1.

Tipperary made the long journey to Tooreen in Mayo to take on the home side in round 2 of the All-Ireland Junior Championship on Saturday.

After the opening round defeat to Cavan a win was a must, and despite little between the sides in the opening exchanges, Tipperary got a firm grip on the game after the restart, confining Mayo to a single point while scoring eight of their own to run out eleven-point winners.

It was point for point for much of the first half with the Mayo forwards keeping the Tipperary rear-guard very busy with both Saoirse Delaney and Fionnuala McLaughlin looking to take on their markers at every opportunity.

Manager Ray Delaney opted to start Grace Moloney at full forward and this paid dividends in the first half as she scored three points.

Alison O’Mahony got her first start of the year and she also impressed offering great pace and energy up front and finishing with two points. She was also unlucky not to have scored a goal, but the Mayo keeper pulled off a fantastic save.

Sinead Meagher was also proving fruitful at wing forward and acted as a real target woman for Ciara Holohan’s puckouts. Approaching half time scores from Aoife McLoughney and Grace Moloney gave Tipperary a four-point lead at the break, 0-10 to 0-6.

In very warm conditions both sides worked extremely hard. For Tipperary Ciara McKeogh really stepped up a gear in the second half and gave a great display. The confidence started to spread throughout the team and good play by Claire Stakelum and Ciara Cummins helped Tipp to extend their lead with Aoife McLoughney providing the finishing touches. She was a constant threat to the Mayo defence, and she finished with a tally of eight points, all from placed balls.

At the opposite end, Rachel Maher was excellent at centre back while the full back line of Niamh McCormack, Ashling Sheedy and Maebh Ellie Ryan was solid throughout. With still plenty to work on it was a very encouraging performance for the Tipperary girls ahead of their meeting with Clare in the County Camogie Grounds the Ragg this Saturday at 5.00pm.

TEAMS - Mayo: Aoibheann Crawley, Aoife Doherty, Amy Mulkeen, Grainne Delaney, Shauna Golden, Ava Lambert, Caoimhe Delaney, Meabh Delaney (Capt), Rachel Lyons, Fionnuala McLaughlin, Helen O’Malley, Saoirse O’Brien, Saoirse Delaney, Lisa Scahill, Ciara Delaney

Subs used: Emer Delaney, Niamh Kennedy

Tipperary: Ciara Holohan (Burgess/Duharra), Meadbh Ellie Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs), Ashling Sheedy (Portroe), Niamh McCormack (Thurles Sarsfields); Amy Crosse (Cashel King Cormacs), Rachel Maher (Nenagh Eire Og), Eimear Fogarty (Shannon Rovers), Claire Stakelum (Holycross/Ballycahill), Ciara McKeogh (Burgess/Duharra), Clodagh Horgan (Boherlahan-Dualla, Capt), Ciara Cummins (Thurles Sarsfields), Sinead Meagher (Kiladangan), Aoife McLoughney (Shannon Rovers), Grace Moloney (Cashel King Cormacs), Alison O’Mahony (Brian Borus).

Sub used: Lisa O’Connor (Boherlahan-Dualla).

Referee: Karol Collins (Galway)