Tipp juniors leave rally too late against Cork in league opener
CAMOGIE: VERY Ireland National League Division 2B Round 1
Tipperary 0-9
Cork 1-10
Report: Geraldine Kinane at the Camogie Grounds
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Ciara Brennan (Tipperary)
SCORERS - Tipperary: Jenny Grace 0-6 (4 frees); Ciara Brennan, Sinead Meagher, Eva O'Dwyer 0-1 each.
Cork: Lauren Homan 1-4 (0-4 frees); Hannah O'Leary 0-3; Cliona Dooley 0-2; Niamh O'Regan 0-1
A much-changed Tipperary junior team from the one that lost to Clare in the All-Ireland final last August took to the field on Saturday at The Ragg, to take on Cork in the opening round of the National League Division 2B.
Playing with the aid of a strong wind, Cork raced into an early lead with the opening five points inside fifteen minutes.
Cliona Dooley got the first score after two minutes followed by a Lauren Homan free before the influential Hannah O’Leary hit three in a row from play.
It wasn’t all one-way traffic as Tipperary also had plenty of possession with Ciara Brennan and Gemma Fox in particular starting brightly.
Having wasted some scoring chances, Tipp eventually got off the mark with a well-taken point from Eire Og Annacarty’s Eva O’Dwyer in the 21st minute.
Jenny Grace and Niamh O’Regan swapped points before Homan converted a free to leave Cork 0-7 to 0-2 in front at the break.
The crucial score of the game came just 32 seconds after the restart; a lack of concentration on Tipp’s behalf allowed Laura Doyle to make a surging run from the half backline and off-loaded to Lauren Homan who finished to the net.
It was a disastrous start to the second half for the home-side, but they responded brilliantly to the set-back, showing great character and workrate to work themselves right back into the game. Jenny Grace hit the next four points in succession from frees and play to reduce Cork’s lead to 1-7 to 0-6 after forty minutes.
With the wind in their favour and the home crowd behind them Tipperary impressed throughout the second half. Sinead Meagher cancelled out a Cliona Dooley point before Lauren Homan and Ciara Brennan traded scores.
By now the bench was really beginning to make an impact with Jill Ann Quirke, Anna Fahie and Lorna Ryan adding great energy to Bill Mullaney’s side.
With sixty minutes played, only a single score separated the sides as Tipperary went in search of a goal to level proceedings. Sinead Meagher came close with a bullet of a shot, but Molly Lynch pulled off an excellent save to deny the Kiladangan player.
Lauren Homan, who captained the Cork side and was probably the difference between the teams, finished with a pointed free to seal a four point victory for the visitors.
Next up for Tipperary is a trip to Clare this Saturday in Meelick at 2.00pm.
TEAMS – Tipperary: Aoife O'Brien (Cashel King Cormacs); Eimear Carey (Newport/Ballinahinch), Miriam Murphy (Silvermines), Ciara Ryan (Silvermines); Emma Kelly (Borris-Ileigh), Gemma Fox (Eire Og Annacarty), Siobhan Pembroke (Gortnahoe/Glengoole); Hazel Brennan (Moyle Rovers), Caroline Shanahan (Drom & Inch); Jenny Grace (Burgess/Duharra), Sinead Meagher (Kiladangan), Ciara Brennan (St Cillian’s); Amy Quinlisk (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Laura Leenane (Shannon Rovers), Eva O'Dwyer (Eire Og Annacarty).
Subs: Anna Fahie (Cashel King Cormacs) for H Brennan (HT); Jill-Anne Quirke (Toomevara) for O'Dwyer (HT), Lily Fahie (Cashel King Cormacs) for Leenane (46), Lorna Ryan (Clonoulty/Rossmore) for Kelly (52), Eimear Fogarty (Shannon Rovers) for Shanahan (56), Amy Callanan (Moycarkey/Borris) for Grace (60 inj).
Cork: Molly Lynch; Maedhbh De Burca, Niamh O'Leary, Grainne Cahalane; Laura Doyle, Caoimhe O’Donoghue, Ciara Ring; Avril Cashman, Eimear Duignan; Ciara Morrison, Lauren Homan, Leah Hallihan; Cliona Dooley, Niamh O'Regan, Hannah O'Leary.
Subs: Grainne Hannon for Ring (26), Emma Flanagan for Duignan (HT); Fiona Nelligan for Morrison (HT); Katie Walsh for Hallihan (43); Emily O'Donoghue for O'Regan (43); Tara McCarthy for Cashman (50); Aisling Egan for O'Donoghue (56).
Referee: Ciaran Goff (Wicklow).