Tipp reel in Dubs to earn draw

CAMOGIE: Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Under 23 Championship Round 1

Dublin 1-9

Tipperary 0-12

Report: Geraldine Kinane in Clonsilla

Photos: Marty Ryan/SportsFocus

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Eimear Fogarty (Shannon Rovers)

SCORERS – Dublin: Eimear Kehoe 1-3; Kirsty Fenlon 0-5 (4 frees); Niamh Roche 0-1 free.

Tipperary: Eva O’Dwyer 0-8 frees; Eimear Fogarty, Ellen Cunneen, Grace Moloney, Niamh Cunneen 0-1 each.

Tipperary and Dublin finished level on Sunday in round 1 of the All-Ireland Under-23 Camogie Championship after a contest that truly was a game of two halves.

With the aid of a strong wind, Dublin dominated the opening period and deservedly led by 1-7 to 0-3 at the break.

They made a blistering start, with Eimear Kehoe finding the net inside two minutes.

Kirsty Fenlon followed with a pointed free, before Kehoe, who was a constant threat in the full-forward line, added a point from play.

Further scores from Fenlon and a Niamh Roche free left Tipperary struggling, as Dublin surged into a 1-4 to 0-0 lead after 16 minutes.

Tipp eventually opened their account through an Eva O’Dwyer free, but Dublin continued to hold the upper hand.

Kehoe added another point, while Dwyer responded in kind. Fenlon chipped in again from midfield, and although Ellen Cunneen registered Tipperary’s only point from play in the half, Dublin held a 1-7 to 0-3 advantage at halftime.

The second half saw a transformed Tipperary side emerge. Playing with far greater intensity, they pressed high, chased every ball, and began to dominate possession, particularly from puck-outs.

Captain Eva O’Dwyer got the comeback underway with a pointed free, before Grace Moloney added a score from play.

Although Dublin responded through a Kirsty Fenlon point, Tipperary, now with the wind at their backs, began to reel them in. Eva O’Dwyer struck an excellent long-range free from midfield and followed up with two more placed balls to leave just three between the sides at 1-8 to 0-8 after 41 minutes.

The momentum continued to swing, with O’Dwyer and Niamh Cunneen exchanging points before Eimear Fogarty, who was hugely influential throughout, fired over a fine score from the wing to level matters at 1-8 to 0-11.

Dublin briefly edged back in front through another Fenlon free, but O’Dwyer responded once more to tie the game.

Despite both sides pushing for a late winner, neither could find the decisive score, and the points were shared at the final whistle.

Tipperary will rue their sluggish start and a number of missed opportunities, while they may also feel hard done by in relation to the new ruling introduced.

At a crucial stage of the game, with the contest in the melting pot, Eva O’Dwyer burst through on goal and looked certain to raise a green flag before being fouled, earning Tipperary a penalty. However, while receiving treatment, O’Dwyer removed her helmet and, under the new rule, was required to leave the field of play, ruling her out of taking the penalty despite being fit to continue and being Tipperary’s penalty taker. Anna Fahie stepped up in her absence and struck the penalty well, but it drifted inches wide of the post.

TEAMS - Dublin: Enya Kennedy (6), Aisling Groarke (6), Ruth Fitzsimons (6), Emma Maher (6), Niamh Roche (7), Caoimhe Tierney (6), Sibeal Cherry (6), Jennifer Moore (6), Kirsty Fenlon (7), Caoimhe French (6), Abbie Kenny (6), Éile Ní Cheallaigh (6) Aoife Byrne (6), Amy Carey, Eimear Kehoe (9).

Tipperary: Molly O’Dwyer (Moycarkey/Borris 6); Aoife Mellerick (Newport/Ballinahinch 6), Katie Fitzgerald (Borris-Ileigh 6), Lilly Fahie (Cashel King Cormacs 7); Paula Quirke (Boherlahan-Dualla 6), Miriam Murphy (Silvermines 6), Kate Dowling (Moycarkey/Borris 6), Eimear Fogarty (Shannon Rovers 9), Anna Fahie (Cashel King Cormacs 6); Ellen Cunneen (Silvermines 7), Lucy Heffernan (Eire Og Annacarty/D 6), Eva O’Dwyer (Eire Og Annacarty/D, Capt 7); Grace Moloney (Cashel King Cormacs 6), Niamh Cunneen (Silvermines 7), Kate Ferncombe (Clonoulty/Rossmore 6).

Referee: Jerome McAllister (Antrim)