Image courtesy of Sportsfocus Photography (https://www.sportsfocus.ie/)

Tipp qualify for league semi-final with classy win v Offaly.

Tipperary 4-17   Offaly 0-13

Tipperary Senior Camogie continued their good form with a superb performance against Offaly in their quarter-final duel v neighbours Offaly. Having qualified for last year’s postponed final, Tipperary are now once again just an hour away from the Littlewoods Ireland National League final.

Offaly started brightly but some fine defensive work by Julieanne Bourke and Mary Ryan prevented early scores. Grace O’Brien was scoring freely with points from play in the 5^th, 6^th and 11^th minutes followed by an unstoppable goal by Cáit Devane in the 16^th minute, created by some clever Nicole Walsh play.  Offaly persisted in running at the Tipperary full back line but Emer Loughman and her back line bottled each Offaly attack. Róisin Howard and Ereena Fryday added long range Tipp points, a Sarah Fryday solo and offload to Cáit Devane resulted in another Tipp point before Grace O’Brien goaled on the half-hour leaving the scoreline 2-08 to Offaly’s 0-07 at the break.

Miriam Campion and Nicole Walsh helped Tipperary extend their lead after halftime with quick points. Róisin Howard then received 2 yellow cards in 2 minutes reducing Tipp to 14. Tipperary responded brilliantly with 2 Emer McGrath points followed by Cait Devane blasting a penalty to the bottom left of the Offaly goal.  Tipperary will be really pleased with the number of scorers with Grace O’Brien bringing her total to 2-04 by fulltime. Tipperary emptied the bench and maintained the strong momentum until the end. Former Tipp player Mairead Teehan scored twice against her old teammates with one effort just skinning the crossbar. Joint Captain Aoife McGrath and clubmate Mairead Eviston along with converted forward Sarah Fryday delivered some incisive clearances in Tipp’s half back line with goalie Áine Slattery bringing off a good second half save.

Tipperary now advance to the National League Semi v All Ireland Champions Kilkenny on Sunday June 13^th in Nowlan Park at 1pm.

SCORERS FOR TIPPERARY: C Devane 2-5(0-3fs, 1-0 pen); G O’Brien 2-4; E McGrath 0-3; R Howard, E Fryday, M Campion, N Walsh, J Kelly 0-1 each

OFFALY: G Egan 0-6(4fs, 2 45s); A Brennan, M Teehan 0-2 each; K Kenny, M Morkan 0-1 each.

TIPPERARY: Á Slattery, J Bourke, M Ryan, E Loughman, A McGrath, M Eviston, S Fryday, E Fryday, R Howard, E McGrath, N Walsh, N Treacy, G O’Brien, C Devane, C McIntyre

Subs: M Campion for Treacy (ht), C McCarthy for E Fryday (40), J Kelly for McIntyre (45), L O’Dwyer for Ryan (56), S Delaney for Eviston (58), C Hennessy for E McGrath (59), L Loughnane for Loughman (60+1)

OFFALY: M Jennings, S Walsh, L Keena, S Shanahan, A Byrne, A Brennan, M Morkan, R Egan, O Kirwan, E Mulrooney, K Kenny, G Dolan, S Harding, G Egan, M Teehan

Subs: S Flannery for Mulrooney (44), C Cleary for Harding (46) REFEREE: J Heffernan (Wexford)