The Camogie Zone

Tesco All-Ireland Minor A Championship

Tipperary 1-15

Limerick 0-03

The Tipperary minor team got their All-Ireland campaign off to a dream start on Sunday with a comprehensive victory over Limerick in Kilmallock. After heavy overnight rain the pitch passed an inspection by the referee and the game got underway at 2.30pm. Tipp started slowly and after 10 minutes they led 2 points to 1 thanks to a Grace Moloney point from play and a free from Lisa O’Connor who started ahead of the named Celine Guinan due to illness. The Limerick score came from Laura Frawley. Aided by a strong wind, Tipperary soon got into their stride and opened up in attack which reaped the rewards. Frees were won and passes to players in the best position were found. Kate Ralph was fouled having bet her marker with Lisa O’Connor pointing the free. Pressure from Cashel’s Anna Fahie forced the Limerick defender to overcarry the ball resulting in another opportunity for Lisa O’Connor to extend Cashel’s lead. At the 25th minute mark Tipperary scored 4 super points in quick succession from play; Cora Heffernan, Anna Fahie, Grace Moloney and Aoife Dwyer all on target.  Superb free taking by Lisa O’ Connor extended Tipperary’s lead further. This coupled with a Lillie Fahie block on a Limerick effort on the goalline towards the end of the 1^st half meant Tipperary enjoyed a 10 point lead at half time 11 points to 1.

As the second half commenced there was no score for either side as Tipperary defended stubbornly. On the 36^th minute a point from Lisa O’Connor was followed 2 minutes later by a Laura Frawley free for Limerick.  The Tipperary halfback line of Lillie Fahie, Abbie Lenihan and Emma Horgan formed a formidable wall to get past while in midfield Kate Ferncombe and Orla O’ Brien were winning breaks and carrying the ball forward.  Grace Moloney scored 2 crucial points from play against a very strong wind, running at the defence and scoring on the run to make it 14 points to 2 after 42 minutes. Limerick continued to find scores hard to come by with Tipperary on top throughout the field. On the 51^st minute they got their third and final score from Ciara Riordan. Five minutes later Tipperary had the ball in the back of the net thanks to an Aoife Dwyer goal. A super series of interplay by Kate Ralph to Anna Fahie to Lisa O’ Connor and finally to Aoife Dwyer saw Aoife bury her shot to the Limerick net from just inside the 20m line. Grace Moloney completed the scoring with another fine point from play to leave the full time score Tipperary 1-15 Limerick 3 points. Next up is a home game this Sunday February 13^th in the County Camogie Grounds, The Ragg against Wexford in round 2. Wexford had a good win in their opening game beating Antrim 3-11 to 2-04.

Tipperary: Kacey Meehan (Brian Borus), Lillie Fahie (Cashel King Cormacs), Niamh Franks (Shannon Rovers), Shauna Heffernan (Annacarty), Lorna Ryan (Clonoulty Rossmore), Abbie Lenihan (Newport Ballinahinch), Emma Horgan (Boherlahan Dualla), Kate Ferncombe (Clonoulty Rossmore), Orla O'Brien (Annacarty), Aoife Dwyer (1-01)(Thurles Sarsfields), Grace Moloney(0-6) (Cashel King Cormacs), Kate Ralph (Moycarkey-Borris), Cora Heffernan(0-1) (Annacarty), Lisa O’Connor (0-5 frees) (Boherlahan Dualla), Anna Fahie (0-2) (Cashel King Cormacs)

Subs used: Niamh Costigan (ht), Emer Fogarty, Danielle Ryan, Aoife Bourke, Jennifer Heffernan.

Littlewoods Ireland Division 2 League

Tipperary 0-07

Kilkenny  3-08

Saturday saw Tipperary travel to Páirc Lachtain in Freshford to play Kilkenny in the opening round of the Littlewoods Ireland Division 2 National League. A change to the programme saw Caroline Browne start in place of Margaret Quigley at centre half back. Kilkenny played the first half with a very strong wind and within 15 seconds of the throw in were heading towards the Tipperary defence however the ball fell short of the target and went wide. After three more wides from Kilkenny and one from Tipperary, Kilkenny put some great points onto the scoreboard. Áine Phelan opened the scoring with two points in quick succession while Afton Grace added to the Kilkenny lead with another 2 points. Tipperary were then awarded a free, however playing against the strong wind the sliotar fell short and the Kilkenny defence worked doggedly to clear the danger. In the 23^rd minute Kilkenny’s Hannah Scott extended their lead with a point which she quickly followed with a goal. There was very little getting past the Kilkenny defence however Aoife McLoughney opened Tipperary’s scoring in the 27^th and 29^th minute with 2 much needed points. A point each from Carlise Comerford and Therese Donnelly saw Kilkenny lead 1-7 to Tipperary’s 0-2 at half time.

The second half started with Tipperary having the wind in their favour. However disaster struck when 8 minutes into the half Kilkenny’s Hannah Scott struck the ball into the back of the Tipperary net. This was followed up with a point from Afton Grace. Tipperary continued to battle hard with Amy Crosse and Rachel Maher excellent throughout. Up front they enjoyed plenty of possession with the wind but were guilty of not being clinical enough in attack. Aoife McLoughney continued to show all her experience with another point but once again Kilkenny struck for a goal courtesy of Carlise Comerford. Aoife McLoughney added to her personal tally with 4 more points as Tipperary started to win more and more of the 50:50 battles. Tipperary will be disappointed with the defeat but with lots of players making their debut there was plenty of positives to be taken from the performance. Full time score at Páirc Lachtain Kilkenny 3-08, Tipperary 0-07.

Tipperary: Aoife Butler ( Annacarty), Maebh Ellie Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs),Rachel Maher (Nenagh Eire Og), Aisling Sheedy (Portroe), Aoife Butler (Thurles Sarsfields), Caroline Browne (Neangh Eire Og), Niamh McCormack (Thurles Sarsfields), Clodagh Horgan, (Boherlahan Dualla), Amy Crosse (Cashel King Cormacs), Ciara McKeogh ( Burgess Duharra),Ciara Cummins (Thurles Sarsfields), Ali O’ Mahoney ( Brian Borus) Aoife Mcloughney (0-7) (Shannon Rovers), Rachel O Dywer ( Annacarty), Leah Heffernan ( Annacarty)

All Ireland Post Primary Senior A Camogie semi-final

Cashel Community School (Tipperary) 0-09 

Cross and Passion (Antrim) 0-08

Cashel began slowly and were making very poor use of the strong wind assistance in the first 15 minutes leading by only 3 points to 1 and lucky that the Antrim school had not converted more scores from the attacks against the elements. Good points from Ellen Browne, Lisa O’ Connor and Anna Fahie slowly got Cashel going. This was a hugely physical game in windy wet conditions and the big Cashel support helped the Community School’s momentum. Cashel settled better towards the end of the half with some fine points. Points from Lisa O’Connor and Anna Fahie meant the Tipperary school enjoyed a 6 point lead at the break 7 points to 1. Cashel’s best spell came early in the second half when each player increased their workrate. Cross and Passion now playing with the advanatage of the strong wind slowly began to chip into the home sides lead. A crucial Ciara Moloney point on the 47^th minute meant Cashel still had a 4 point lead heading into the final 10 minutes. A Cross and Passion free reduced the gap to 3 points. On the 51^st minute a brilliant move involving Anna Fahie and Lisa O’Connor resulted in an excellent point from Grace Moloney. In the final stages of the game, which included a nerve-racking 6 minutes of injury time, Cashel were defending with their backs to the wall. Tenacious defending by Ella O’ Dwyer, Anna Keane and Aoibhe Gayson Molloy was supported by the relieving long clearances of Emma Horgan, Leah Kavanagh and Lillie Fahie. Cross and Passion had a series of frees, choosing to take their point from a close-in free and missing some long range frees. In the end Cashel held out for a memorable 1 point victory after a superb team to book their place in the All-Ireland final.

Cashel CS: Molly Gilmartin Boherlahan Dualla, Ella O’ Dwyer Cashel King Cormacs, Ellie Butler Cashel KC, Anna Keane Cashel KC, Katelyn Downey Cashel KC, Aoibhe Gayson Molloy Cashel KC, Leah Kavanagh Boherlahan Dualla, Emma Horgan Boherlahan Dualla , Lillie Fahie Cashel KC, Ellen Browne Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams, Grace Moloney Cashel KC, Anna Fahie Cashel KC, Anna Murphy Boherlahan Dualla, Erin Gillespie Cashel KC, Lisa O’ Connor Boherlahan Dualla,

Subs used: Ciara Moloney Cashel KC,

All-Ireland Post Primary Senior C Final

Colaiste Phobal Roscrea (Tipperary) 1-07

St Killian’s College (Antrim)  0-09

Colaiste Phobal Roscrea will meet St Killian’s College, New Inn Galway in the All-Ireland final after overcoming St Killians’ College, Garron Tower in a close battle on Saturday. In what was truly a game of two halves Roscrea went in at the breaking leading 1-6 to 0-01 having enjoyed the advantage of the strong wind with Andrea Sculy getting the goal. As expected with the wind now against them Roscrea found themselves up against it and St Killian’s had 7 points in succession before Roscrea scored their first and only point of the second half. This meant the score was 1-7 to 8 points with the clock ticking down. Great defensive play by Colaiste Phobal Roscrea led by Ciara Maher at full back and Nicola Cleary at centre back particularly in the final minutes got them over the line and ensured they held out to win by the narrowest margins 1-07 to 9 points. After an exciting contest in difficult weather conditions Roscrea can now look forward to a place in the final on the 19^th February.

Colaiste Phonal Roscrea: Grace Mulrooney,Rebecca Murphy, Ciara Maher, Alice Maher, Jessica Kelly, Nicola Cleary, Khya Lynch, Kelsey Wing, Orlagh Phelan (0-2 frees), Laura Hogan, Emily Doughan (0-1), Izzy O’Meara, Leah Ryan, Caoimhe Flannery, Andrea Scully (1-04, 1 free)