Tipp point their way past Limerick

CAMOGIE: Munster Senior Championship Semi-Final

Tipperary 0-25

Limerick 1-12

Report: Joe Scully at

SuperValu Pairc Uí Chaoimh

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Roisin Howard (Tipperary)

SCORERS – Tipperary: Eimear McGrath 0-6 frees; Roisin Howard, Caoimhe Stakelum (2 frees) 0-5 each; Eimear Heffernan 0-3 (1 free); Caoimhe McCarthy 0-2; Karen Kennedy, Kate Ralph, Jean Kelly, Aoife Dwyer 0-1 each.

Limerick: Donna Kenny 0-8 frees; Lizanna Boylan 1-0; Dearbhla Egan 0-2; Ailbhie Larkin, Laura Southern 0-1 each.

Tipperary qualified for the Munster Senior Camogie final following a comfortable ten-point victory over a gallant Limerick side on Sunday.

After an even opening ten minutes, the Blue & Gold would up the tempo and Limerick were unable to cope with the pressure been applied in both attack and defence by last year’s beaten All-Ireland semi-finalists.

It was a very impressive team performance from Tipp, with the work-rate of their forward line practically good, as they put the Limerick defence under severe pressure, every time they tried to play out from the back.

Also impressive was the fact Tipperary only conceded just 1-3 from play, although the free count of 15 conceded and will be a worry for manager James Heffernan ahead of the Munster final against Waterford or Kerry in three weeks’ time.

Tipp opened the scoring in the second minute when Roisin Howard pointed following good play by Caoimhe Stakelum.

Limerick were soon level through a Donna Kenny free, and then two frees by Eimear McGrath had Tipperary ahead in the sixth minute.

Another free from Kenny had the gap back to one, before Tipperary started to take control of proceedings hitting seven in a row, as they started to dominate the Limerick puckout.

Kate Ralph hit the first after a Limerick defender was overturned in possession and from the resultant puckout Karen Kennedy found the target following a strong run through the middle.

Caoimhe Stakelum fired over next from out by the sideline before Roisin Howard added another, with McGrath then pointing from a free. Eimear Heffernan made it 0-9 to 0-2 in the 20th minute, with Stakelum adding the tenth a minute later following a fine catch and turn. Roisin Howard pointed in the 23rd minute to leave Tipp nine ahead.

Limerick would start to come more into the game, and hit would hit three-in-a-row all frees from Donna Kenny.

Eimear McGrath would respond with a free for the Premier County before Caoimhe McCarthy found herself running onto a ground pass from McGrath from an indirect free and the Tipp skipper had an easy finish.

Kenny finished the scoring for the half in added time with another free, as Tipp went in at the break ahead 0-13 to 0-6.

Limerick opened the scoring in the second half, another Kenny free, with Eimear McGrath responding with a free before Roisin Howard struck two points from play.

Another free from Kenny left the score at 0-16 to 0-8 after 36 minutes.

A McGrath free extended Tipp’s lead, before a superb team move ended with Caoimhe McCarthy pointing. Eimear McGrath added two frees in-a-row before in the 45th minute the Treaty-women hit their first score from play when Lizanna Boylan following a storming run down the centre, and after her first effort was hooked her follow up shot found the back of the net.

Tipperary responded in fine fashion, hitting the next five points, firstly from sub Aoife Dwyer, and then another sub Jean Kelly tapped over after Dwyer’s first effort had been brilliantly saved by Sarah Gillane in the Limerick goal.

Caoimhe Stakelum hit Tipp’s 23rd point before an Eimear Heffernan double finished Tipp’s scoring, the first after Gillane pulled off yet another stunning save to deny Dwyer.

Limerick finished the stronger with the last four points, two from their own super sub Dearbhla Egan, the first been her sides opening point from play. Laura Southern added the next, before a fine effort from midfielder Orlaith Kelleher in added time.

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

Subs: Jean Kelly (Eire Og Annacarty/D) for McGrath (39); Lucy Purcell (Thurles Sarsfields) for Ralph (44); Aoife Dwyer (Thurles Sarsfields) for McIntyre (47); Sarah Corcoran (Moycarkey/Borris) for Blair (55); Casey Hennessy (Clonoulty/Rossmore) for Stakelum (55).

Limerick: Sarah Gillane; Teresa Dore, Ciara O’Riordion, Ellie Woulfe, Sophie O’Callaghan, Stephanie Woulfe, Eimear O’Donovan, Ailbhie Larkin, Lizanna Boylan, Donna Kenny, Laura Southern, Rebecca Delee, Shauna Cunningham.

Subs; Ciara Curtin for Delee (10 inj), Cliodhna Ryan for Dore (HT); Emily O’Halloran for E Woulfe (43); Claire Power for O’Callaghan (49); Maeve Geary for O’Donovan (57), Dearbhla Egan for Kenny (57).

Referee: Joe Mullins (Clare).