Tesco Post Primary Schools All-Ireland Junior B Final

Presentation Secondary School Thurles 3-7

St Brigid’s College Callan 1-4

Report by Catherine Shanahan

All roads led to Callan on St Patrick’s Day when John Locke Park, Callan hosted the Tesco All-Ireland Post-Primary Junior B Final between St. Brigid’s College, Callan and Presentation Secondary School, Thurles.

Thurles were first to open the scoring when a solo from Lucy Callanan was converted over the bar. Moments later St Brigid’s Ciara O’Shea was posed over the ball for a 45 which she confidently slotted over the bar for a point. This was soon followed by an Aisling O’Shea goal when she received a high delivery from Ava Brett to put the ball into the back of the Thurles net. Kate Ralph got the ball on the hurl and from long range delivered it towards the Callan goal, however goalkeeper Jenny Saunders was poised and ready for the delivery. With great confidence and composure she caught the ball in her hand and cleared it out of the danger zone. St Brigid’s continued to dominate when Ava Brett went on a 30m solo run sending the ball over for another point. Thurles had a goal chance but the Callan defence battled to clear the ball out. Moments later in a ruck Kate Ralph picked up the ball and sent it over for another point for Thurles. Just before halftime Kate Ralph had the ball again and slotted it over to add another point to her tally. Half time score St. Brigid’s 1-2, Presentation Thurles 0-3.

The second half saw one change for Thurles with Grace Flanagan replacing Anna O’Brien. Thurles dominated the start of the second half and with only seconds on the clock Emer Dwan opened up her scoring with a point. Danielle Butler and Lucy Callanan linked up with some great passing play which put Lucy in the perfect position to add another point to the Thurles scoreline. Thurles continued to dominate when Lucy Callanan scored a great point from 20m out. Thurles had a great chance at goal but Jenny Saunders was again composed in the goal and produced a great save to keep Callan in the game. With 8 mins gone and Thurles in the lead by 3 points Kate Ralph was ready to take a 45. On the way towards the Callan goal it took a defensive deflection and landed into the back of the net to put Presentation in pole position. Callan finally had a chance to open their 2^nd half scoring when Aisling O’Shea was fouled. Elly Holland stepped up to take the free, sending it over the bar. Ciara O’Shea converted another free for Callan, reducing the deficit to 4 points. However, moments later Caitlin Shelly cleared the ball from the Thurles defence and delivered it to Rachel Ralph who added another point to the Thurles score. Thurles continued to dominate the half with Lucy Callanan converting another point. Moments before full time subsitute Leanna Coppinger had the ball and buried into the back of the net. Full time score at John Locke Park St. Brigid’s College: 1-4, Presentation Thurles: 3-7.

Huge congratulations to Presentation Thurles on a fantastic victory and also to Caitlin Shelly who was awarded player of the game.

Presentation: M O’Dwyer, S Lee, Ú Duggan, K O’Keefe, Caitlin Shelly, S Maher, E Ralph, Ciara Shelly, E Dwan 0-1, D Butler, K Ralph capt. 1-2, 1-0 45, A Reddan, A O’Brien, R Ralph 0-1, L Callanan 1-3.

Subs: G Flanagan for A O’Brien (HT), L Coppinger 1-0 for D Butler (56), E O’Dwyer for A Reddan

St Bridget’s: J Saunders, R Hartley, C Gleeson, S Ryan, A O’Sullivan, J Cuddy, E Hayes, C Power, C O’Shea 0-2 (1f), R O’Meara, A Brett capt 0-1, M Conroy, E Holland 0-1, A O’Shea 1-0, C O’Donovan.

Tesco Post Primary Schools All-Ireland Junior B Final Replay

Ursuline Thurles 1-8

Loreto Kilkenny 2-5

Report by Catherine Shanahan

Loreto Kilkenny and Ursuline Thurles returned to St Fenians, Johnstown on Friday to do battle again in the Tesco Post Primary Junior A All-Ireland final replay.

Both teams started briskly. The first scoring chance came for Thurles when they were awarded a free from 25m out. Sarah Corcoran landed the ball outside the square where a battle between both teams ensued however the ball went wide.

6 mins into the game Loreto were awarded a free. Rachel Dowling with the aid of the wind sent the ball over to open Loreto’s scoring with a point.

12 mins into the game and Tara McGrath sent the ball towards the Thurles goals, but Orla Ryan took no chances and cleared the ball resulting in a 45 for Loreto. Rachel Dowling stepped up and sent the ball over for her second point.

Marie O’ Keeffe, Tara McGrath and Rachel Dowling linked up and produced a great passage of play with Rachel striking the ball off her left side to score the first point from play for Loreto.

Finally, 15 mins into the game Lucy Purcell opened the scoring for Thurles with a great point. Another free for Loreto was converted by Rachel Dowling.

The pressure by the Thurles forwards was rewarded when they were given a free. Sarah Corcoran opened up her scoring when she sent the ball over the bar to reduce the deficit to 2 points with 18 mins gone.

Following a great solo run by Sarah Corcoran she slotted the ball over for another point to Thurles.

Aoife Kavanagh produced a great clearance in the Thurles defence sending the ball up to the forwards. It was gathered up by Lucy Purcell and with great power she sent the ball flying into the top of the Loreto net. 22 mins into the half and the Ursuline have turned the game around with a score of 1-3 to Loreto’s 0-4.

Thurles were awarded a free when Emma Corr was penalised. Sophie Corcoran landed the ball perfectly for Maria Ralph who picked it up, stepped away from goal, turned and with great confidence scored a super point.

Marie O’Keefe stepped up to take a Loreto free, which was caught by her teammate Tara McGrath, who sent a great cross field pass to Anna Doheny. Anna struck the ball high towards the Thurles goal. Orla Ryan, not taking her eyes off the ball as it made its way to her in goal, was ready and poised to handle the delivery. She produced an excellent save when she lifted the hurley above her head to bat the ball away from the goalmouth.

Moments before the end of the 1^st half Thurles were awarded a free. Sarah Corcoran slotted the ball between the posts, her 3^rd point of the game.

2 mins into injury time Rachel Dowling converted another point from a free. Score at half time Loreto 0-5, Ursuline 1-5.

1 min into the second half Thurles were awarded a free which was sent over the bar by Sarah Corcoran. Shortly after their point Thurles made a change when Andrea Quirke was replaced by Clodagh Ryan. With 15 mins gone Thurles made another change when Ava Bevans came on for Robbyn Fitzgerald.

With the game very nip and tuck, both teams couldn’t break each other’s defence and with 19 mins gone since the last score Sarah Corcoran sent the ball over the bar adding another point to the Ursuline tally. With 21 mins gone in the second half Maria Ralph hit the ball low and hard towards the Loreto goal, the shot was saved by Eimear O’Neil however Caoimhe Stakelum was in the perfect position to intercept the clearance and sent the ball into the Loreto goal. Thurles were now leading 2-7 to 0-5 and looking in control. With just over 6 mins left to play Loreto were rewarded a free. Rachel Dowling positioned the ball and dropped it in front of Ciara Dunne who turned and fired the ball into the Thurles goal.

Orla Ryan’s puck out landed favourably for Kate Ferncombe. With the ball on the hurl she went on a solo run and sent the ball over for another Thurles point. With 5 mins of normal time to play, Ursuline lead 2-8 to Loreto’s 1-5. Another change for Thurles saw Dervla Naughton come on for Maria Ralph. 3 mins into stoppage time and Loreto were rewarded a free. Rachel Dowling struck the ball low and hard into the top of the Thurles net. Thurles’s lead was now reduced to three points and they had to endure a nervy few final minutes.

Finally after 6 mins of stoppage time the ref blow the whistle for full time. Ursuline Thurles were triumphant with a final score of 2-8 to 2-5. Throughout both games the supporters were treated to an excellent exhibition of camogie from both teams. Credit to the Ursuline management team who deployed Aoife Burke back as a sweeper in the opening half to curtail the Loreto attack who were so clinical in the drawn game. A fantastic well-deserved title for Uruline after a great year.  Congratulations to Sarah Corcoran who was awarded player of the game.

Ursuline’s scorers: L Purcell 1-1, C Stakelum 1-0, S Corcoran 0-5 (0-4 frees), M Ralph 0-1, K Ferncombe 0-1.

Loreto scorers: R Dowling 1-5 (1-4 frees), C Dunne 1-0.

Ursuline’s : O Ryan, M Bourke, A Fitzgerald, T Ryan, C Fitzgibbon, A Kavannagh, P Quirke, S Corcoran j-capt, K Ferncombe, M Ralph, A Bourke, L Purcell, C Stakelum, R Fitzgerald, A Quirke

Subs: A Bevans for R Fitzgerald (44), D Naughton j-capt for M Ralph (62).

Loreto: E O’Neill, Á Dowling, A Carroll, O Kirwan, E Corr, M O’Keefe, A Doheny, E Smith, A Browne, T McGrath, R Dowling, L Kirby, J Lennon, C Keher-Murtagh capt, C Dunne.

Tesco All-Ireland Minor A semi-final

Tipperary 0-9

Cork 1-7

A fine individual score from distance into the breeze after a storming run from centre back Aoife Healy gave victory to Cork after an enthralling 60 minutes of camogie in the Tesco Minor A All-Ireland semi-final. It was heartbreak for Tipperary at the final whistle who dominated possession for large portions of the game but couldn’t make it count where it matters on the scoreboard despite some great play. As injury time approached it looked that extra time maybe on the cards as the sides were deadlocked but a moment of sheer determination from Healy to put her team in front and some brave defending which followed meant Cork will now look ahead to a final this Sunday against Galway.

Tipperary started with the advantage of the wind and led 2 points to no score after 5 minutes thanks to points from Anna Fahie and Orla O’Brien. Cork responded on the 8^th minute with a Orlaith Mullins point from the wing while Ana Fahy levelled proceedings midway through the opening half. A minute later Moycarkey Borris’s Kate Ralph had Tipp back in front with a well taken point but disaster struck when Cork’s Orlaith Cahalane found the back of the net. This was to be Cork’s last score of the opening half as Tipp went on to dominate possession which resulted in 3 unanswered points, 2 Celine Guinan frees either side of an Anna Fahie point.  With Lorna Ryan, Abbie Lenihan and Emma Horgan on top in the half back line Cork struggled to create scoring chances. Orla O’Brien continued her excellent form in midfield alongside the hard working Kate Ferncombe resulting in lots of attacking opportunities for the Michael Ferncombe managed outfit. Unfortunately a string of wides throughout the half meant that despite all the good play they only held the narrowest of leads at the interval 6 points to 1-2.

Cork raced back into the lead after the restart with an early Orlaith Cahalane free followed by a Ciara Morrison point. Celine Guinan and Orlaith Cahalane traded points from frees as both sides served up a highly entertaining contest. Aoife Dywer had the sides level again on the 41^st minute. Five minutes later they were back in front when Celine Guinan pointed her 4^th free of the game. Orlaith Cahalane tied the game up again on the 51^st minute and for almost 10 minutes despite chances on both ends including an Anna Fahie shot coming of the post neither team could conjure up a score until Aoife Healy’s match winner on the 60^th minute. Tipperary fought to the bitter end and had opportunities late on to level it but with Cork back defending in numbers the Tipp attack couldn’t get a free shot off. In the end the premier side ran out of time resulting in heart-breaking defeat.

Tipperary: Kacey Meehan, Lilly Fahie, Niamh Franks, 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, Grace Moloney, Niamh Costigan, Kate Ralph (Moycarkey-Borris), Celine Guinan, Anna Fahie

Subs: Lisa O’Connor for Celine Guinan (56min)

U 16 A Munster Championship

Tipperary 3-10

Clare 0-4

Tipperary had an emphatic victory over Clare in round 1 of the Munster U 16 A championship to qualify for a place in the Munster semi-final. Clare had the aid of a very strong wind in the County Camogie Grounds on Saturday afternoon but it was Tipperary that led at the break 1-1 to 2 points thanks to a rasper of a goal by Caoimhe Stakelum after 12 minutes. Sophie Maher had opened the home teams account with a point from midfield before Evie Scanlon (Clare’s only scorer on the day) equalised. An attack on the 20^th minute led to a Clare penalty which was brilliantly saved by Danielle Butler in the goals. A second Evie Scanlon free on the 24^th minute completed the scoring in a low scoring opening half.

In the second half centre back Sarah Corcoran gave an exhibition of free taking brilliantly executing 5 in total and 1 45m. With the wind at her back she stepped up in the opening few wins to score 3 frees in a row. A Danielle Ryan point was followed by a Ciara O’Hora goal in a blistering start to the second half by Tipp that put the result beyond doubt as they now held a 9 point lead 2-5 to 2 points. The Clare puck out struggled to get out passed their own half backline against a very strong wind meaning the Tipp attack was relentless. Hannah Butler and Sarah Corcoran both pointed before Ciara Shelly had 1-1 in quick succession to make it 3-9 to 3 with 10 minutes to go. Evie Scanlon had her second point of the half from a free while Sarah Corcoran finished the scoring for Tipp. Job done for Tipp and they now look forward to a Munster semi-final on the 24^th April. Credit to Clare they never gave up battling right to the end. They also had plenty of possession in the opening half and produced some good passages of play but were guilty of some poor wides which gave Tipp the advantage.

Tipperary: Danielle Butler, Lucy Purcell, Aine Finn, Eabha Dolan, Paula Quirke, Sarah Corcoran(0-6, 5 frees, 1 45m), Alison Fitzgerald, Sophie Maher (0-1), Danielle Ryan(0-1), Ciara Shelly(1-1), Hannah Butler(0-1), Caoimhe Stakelum(1-0), Emer Dwan, Ciara O’Hora(1-0), Ali O’Kelly

Subs used: Caitlin Shelly, Robbyn Fitzgerald, Clodagh Ryan, Ava Bevans, Hazel Ryan, Ciara Gleeson, Iris Grace

Division 2 Relegation

Saturday 26^th March VS Laois

Tipperary have been drawn to face Laois on Saturday in the division 2 relegation semi final in Banagher at 12 noon.A win will see Ray Delaney’s side cement their division 2 status for next year and will give the team a timely boost ahead of this summer’s championship. The looser will get one more opportunity to stay up with Kildare waiting in a relegation final. The panel continue to prepare well with a challenge match against Clare at the weekend where it was announced that Clodagh Horgan will captain the team for the year. This is a great honour for Clodagh and her club Boherlahan Dualla. Aisling Sheedy of Portroe Camogie Club was also named as Vice captain. Congratulations to both Clodagh and Aisling.

Adult League Round 1 Results

Senioe League

Drom-Inch 6-8 Annacarty 5-9

Clonoulty Rossmore 1-2 Nenagh 1-6

Intermediate league

Kilruane MacDonaghs 2-12 Newport Ballinahinch 0-9

Toomevara 2-4 Shannon Rovers 0-8

Junior A League

Lorrha 0-3 Templemore 1-0

Holycross Ballycahill 2-10 Brian Borus 2-10

Junior B League

Portroe 2-8 Moycarkey Borris 4-9

Junior B2 League

Kilruane MacDonaghs 2-2 Holycross Ballycahaill 3-11

Brian Borus 3-1 Moycarkey Borris 1-3