Tipperary top the group with win over Wexford
Home / Tipperary top the group with win over Wexford
August 02, 2021
All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship
Tipperary 4-11 Wexford 1-11
Late goals from Clodagh McIntyre and Eimear McGrath added gloss to the scoreline as Tipperary beat Wexford by 4-11 to 1-11 at Semple Stadium in the last of the weekend’s action in the All-Ireland senior camogie championship, though luck wasn’t on the side of the Premier County less than an hour after the final whistle when they were drawn out as the only group winner to have to play a quarter-final fixture.
Tipperary will meet Waterford and Kilkenny will play Wexford in a quarter-final double header on Saturday, August 21 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork, while Cork and Galway were drawn out to receive byes into the semi-final stages.
The Premier County have reached the semi-final stages of the championship in each of the last three seasons and they were quick to settle into their work this afternoon, with Cáit Devane finding the net in the fourth minute in response to two early Wexford points. Róisín Howard rounded the keeper and fired in a second with the water break approaching, but Wexford kept in the game, largely by getting plenty of bodies back behind the ball to stifle the Tipperary attack.
Nicole Walsh and Karin Blair hit the target for Tipperary from distance to edge them six points clear, only for Chloe Foxe to strike a goal from a penalty and put the result back in the melting pot yet again just before half-time.
The second half was a tense and tight affair, with Ereena Friday increasingly influential after coming off the Tipperary bench, and it took a superb save from Wexford’s Laura Brennan to deny McGrath a goal and keep the visitors’ hopes alive going into the latter stages.
McGrath made no mistake on the hour mark when she was picked out by a wonderful pass from Devane, and with Wexford’s resolve broken, McIntyre was able to tack on a fourth goal in stoppage time to confirm the win and top spot in the group in the process.
Tipperary did not come out of the hat for another semi-final appearance but Mary Ryan and Bill Mullaney are focusing on the countless positives of winning all three group games, with Waterford standing in their way of a return to the last four in the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship.
The other quarter-final, which takes place as part of a double header at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Auguat 21, will involve Wexford and Kilkenny.
“At the end of the day job done,” said Ryan after Tipp's 4-11 to 1-11 triumph over Wexford. “Delighted to get the win. Three out of three. We just said there we can’t do anymore than that. We are thrilled with the win. Very tough battle. Wexford put up a physical battle in a big open field. For us job done and we are delighted to top the group.
“We would rather not be so busy in defence like we were today. They kept us on our toes, they kept us under pressure. It was very uneasy for us most of the game and that was testament to them and the pressure they put on us. The girls pulled out the goals towards the end of the game and we pulled away thank God.
“Wexford started out. They got the first score on the board. To respond with two goals it really gave us a driving force to push on and it gave us a lift.
“It’s very competitive. We had five new starts there today and we had three or four girls making their Championship debuts and they really threw their hands up. It’s fantastic for us to see. Younger faces coming in. Eimear (McGrath) and Clodagh (McIntyre) took their goals well when they came back in. Three busy weeks ahead of us and we have a lot to prepare for.”
“The assumption was Tipp won well in their first two games and they were handy and we were odds-on favourites,” said Mullaney. “You earn everything. It’s Championship. They came here with a method and a plan but I think our girls showed up and played their way through it and won going away in the end.
“We found out a lot about ourselves. We found out a lot about Wexford and where we really are. The whole point was to top the group and we did that and we did that well.”
Tipperary: Aine Slattery - Shannon Rovers, Sarah Delaney - Boherlahan, Mary Ryan - Moneygall, Emer Loughman - Clonoulty, Aoife McGrath - Drom, Karen Kennedy - Thurles Sarsfields, Mairead Eviston - Drom, Grace o Brien - Nenagh Eire Og, Karin Blair - Cashel KC, Casey Hennessy - Clonoulty, Roisin Howard - Cahir, Orla o Dwyer - Cashel KC, Emer Heffernan - Knockavilla, Cait Devane - Clonoulty,
Subs: Ereena Fryday - Knockavilla, Clodagh McIntyre - Lorrha, Emer McGrath - Drom, Miriam Campion - Drom, Jean Kelly - Anacarty.
Courtesy of Kevin Egan and Daragh o Conchuir.
Heroic effort v All Ireland winners Cork falls short!
Munster Under 16A Final: Cork 0-13 Tipperary 2-05.
Tipperary had been comfortably beaten in Cork earlier this season but put up a marvellous display in Dungarvan with the sides level after 55 minutes on the clock. Cork started well racing into a 3point lead but points by Celine Guinan and Danielle Ryan (B) kept Tipperary in touch. Tipperary came close to several goals in the second quarter with the Danielle Ryan (A) having a rasper stopped by the Cork goalie.
The third quarter saw Tipperary defence and goalkeeper Kcey Meehan to the fore with Niamh Franks, Shauna Heffernan and Emma Horgan all with long releiving clearances and Helen Cleere, Meabh Ryan, Lucy Purcell and Lisa Blair tying up every Cork attack.
Kate Ferncombe and Kate Ralph began running at the Cork defence causing Cork problems and in the final quarter Ciara Moloney and Jennifer Heffernan converted goal chances to draw level with the reigning All Ireland champions.
However, 2 late Cork points sealed victory for the Rebelettes as the achieved the Munster / All Ireland double.
Tipperary: Kacey Meehan - Brian Borus, Helen Cleere - Gortnahoe, Niamh Franks - Shannon Rovers, Maebh Ryan - Holycross, Lucy Purcell - Thurles Sarsfields, Shauna Heffernan - Anacarty, Lisa Blair - Cashel KC, Emma Horgan - Boherlahan, Kate Ferncombe - Clonoulty, Celine Guinan - Shannon Rovers, Kate Ralph - Moycarkey, Danielle Ryan - Boherlahan, Isobelle Corbett - Fethard, Anna Murphy - Boherlahan, Danielle Ryan - Anacarty. Subs: Aoife Fitzgerald - Borrisoleigh, Ciara Moloney - Cashel KC, Paula Quirke - Boherlahan, Jennifer Heffernan - Anacarty. Also: Molly o Dwyer - moycarkey, Sophie Maher - Clonoulty, Kellie Browne - Cashel, Saoirse Davis - Cashel, Ciara Shelley - Moycarkey, Leah Flannery - Cahir, Molly Purcell - Ballybacon, Caitlin Shelley - Moycarkey, Rebecca o Mara - Thurles Sarsfields, Aoife Bourke - Clonoulty, Ailbhe Ryan - Anacarty, Niamh Hayes - Knockavilla, Hazel Brennan - Moyle Rovers, Rachel Ralph -, Moycarkey, Aleisha Kearney - Moycarkey.
All Ireland Intermediate Championship
Tipperary 1-12 Laois 3-11
Tipperary Intermediate team suffered their second defeat in successive weeks this time against Laois in the Ragg to end their championship ambitions. It means they now have to make the long journey to Derry this weekend where a win is needed to prevent facing a relegation battle. This will be a tough task as Derry have already recorded two comprehensive wins over Laois and Kerry. No doubt the Tipp girls and management will be disappointed that their championship performances never hit the highs of their emphatic victory over Cork in the Munster final a few weeks ago. On Saturday evening their display lacked the energy and drive needed to succeed while Laois made life difficult for them operating with a sweeper and hunting in packs for every ball. Tipp had to earn every score and led at the first half water break 3 points to two with Cortney Ryan, Sinead Meagher and a superb score from Andrea Loughnane edging them in front. Laois’s two scores came from frees by Aimee Collier who was brilliant throughout the hour. Two mins after the re-start Laois went in front thanks to a Grainne Hyland free. Both sides traded points but Laois kept a slender lead until Tipp found the net 10 minutes into the second half thanks to Nicola Loughnane. Laois led 1-04 to 0-6 at the break however they could have been further ahead but Aimee Colliers penalty shortly after half time came crashing off the crossbar. Both sides continued to exchange points and at the second half water break the signs were good for Tipp and they looked re-energised after their goal and led Laois 1-09 to 1-07. Jenny Grace pointed some crucial frees to keep the Tipp girls ahead but they could not shake of this Laois team who were fighting for their championship survival. With 30 minutes on the clock they goaled to put them ahead and won the puckout and fired a shot over the bar to swing the momentum back in their favour. The leinster outfit showed a brilliant fighting attitude and a late goal meant they ran out 5 point winners to the bitter disappointment of the Tipperary panel, management and supporters. Credit to Laois they fought back great after going behind in the 3rd quarter and never dropped their heads. Their game plan worked and they were able to nullify the Tipperary threat up front while being patient in attack. For Tipperary they never really got going like they are capable of and although they led with only minutes remaining they couldn’t get the crucial scores in succession to pull away from Laois. Every score was very hard earned and losing Sinead Meagher to injury who had scored a number of points from play was a big loss.
Tesco All Ireland Minor Championship
Galway 5-17 Tipperary 1-07
Tipperary suffered a heavy defeat on Sunday August 1st in Kenny Park, Athenry against a rampant Galway side. Tipperary must win the Round 2 Group game v Dublin on August 8th in the Ragg Camogie Grounds to advance.
Tipperary Minor Team: 1. Kacey Meehan – Brian Borus, 2. Aine Ryan – Fethard, 3. Miriam Murphy – Silvermines, 4. Nell Spillane – Fethard, 5. Emma O’Sullivan – Moycarkey, 6. Caoimhe McCormack – Knockavilla Kickhams, 7. Katie Fitzgerald - Borrisoleigh, 8. Alison O’Mahony – Brian Borus, 9. Orla O’Brien – Annacarty, 10. Aoife O’Dwyer – Thurles Sarsfields, 11. Abbie Lenihan – Newport Ballinahinch, 12. Ellen Cunneen – Silvermines, 13. Grace Moloney – Cashel King Cormacs, 14. Eva O’Dwyer - Annacarty, 15. Lisa O’Connor - Boherlahan.
Subs Used: Anna Fahey - Cashel, Niamh Cuneen - Silvermines, Eimear Fogarty - Shannon Rovers, Laura Leenane - Shannon Rovers, Niamh Costigan - Cahir, Ellen Gantley - Anacarty, Lillie Fahey - Cashel, Cora Heffernan - Anacarty. Also: 16. Caroline Shanahan – Drom-Inch, Leah Kavanagh – Boherlahan, Aoibhe Gayson Molloy – Cashel King Cormacs, Gráinne O’Donnell – Moyle Rovers, Ella O’Dwyer – Cashel King Cormacs, Lorna Ryan – Clonoulty, Caitlin Downey – Cashel King Cormacs, Caoimhe Doyle – Holycross.
Munster Under 16B Final
Cork 6-21 Tipperary 0-03.
Tipperary: 1. Lily Tobin – Cashel King Cormacs, 2. Ellen Maher – Moycarky Borris, 3. Aoife O’Neill – Ballybacon Grange, 4. Abbie O’Dwyer - Silvermines, 5. Aisling Kennedy – Burgess Duharra, 6. Ciara O’Meara - Fethard, 7. Ellen Browne – Knockavilla, 8. Sarah Ryan - Knockavilla, 9. Anna Keane – Cashel King Cormacs, 10. Michelle O’Halloran - Portroe, 11. Kerri Doyle - Fethard, 12. Laura Kennedy – Burgess Duharra, 13. Keevagh O’Donoghue – Cashel King Cormacs, 14. Emma Cahalane – Kildangan, 15. Clodagh Foley - Fethard, 16. Jessica Moloney - Fethard, 17. Maeve Steed – Silvermines, 18. Jade O’Dowd – Thurles Sars, 19. Mollie Ryan - Silvermines, 20. Ali Buckley - Knockavilla, 21. Rosaleen O’Gorman – Brian Borus, 22. Shauna Flanaghan – Moycarky Borris, 23. Caoimhe O’Sullivan – Moycarky Borris, 24. Eabha O’Brien - Nenagh, 25. Ciara Morris - Nenagh, 26. Aoife White – Knockavilla Kickhams, 27. Olibhe Mulhall - Kildangan, 28. Eabha Lambert – Ballybacon Grange, 29. Caoimhe Maher - Boherlahan, 30. Chloe Carroll - Borrisoleigh, 31. Katie Ryan Donnellan - Silvermines, 32. Caoimhe Healy – Knockavilla Kickhams
ADULT COUNTY LEAGUE RESULTS:
Senior League Final: Clonoulty 3-13 Silvermines 2-08
Intermediate County League Semi-finals:
Kilruane McDonaghs 1-22 Cahir 1-05
Borrisoleigh conceded to Newport / Ballinahinch
Junior A County League semi-finals
Templemore 1-05 Kiladangan 1-04
Holycross 3-06 Brian Borus 2-15.
Tipperary Camogie Grounds, The Ragg, Thurles,
Co. Tipperary