VERY Division 1A

Cork 1-10

Tipperary 2-10

Division 1A of the Very Camogie League is headed for a pulsating conclusion, with weekend results leaving four teams level at the top separated only by score difference with two rounds remaining.

Two late goals from the Drom-Inch duo of Eimear McGrath and Niamh Treacy snatched a stunning 2-10 to 1-10 victory for Tipperary over All-Ireland champions Cork, to ensure that five of the six teams participating still have a chance of making the Division 1A final of the Very Camogie League with two rounds remaining.

It was a very satisfying win for Tipperary as they beat the All-Ireland champions down in Cork and in doing so inflicted a first defeat of the campaign on Cork in a dramatic encounter at Páirc Uí Rinn. Remarkably, that puts the Leesiders, who went into this round top of the table, down in fourth, with a score difference of +1, which is two points less than their conquerors.

The late flourish from Tipp stunned Cork, who were heavily reliant on Amy O’Connor, as top scorer with 1-6. Ger Manley’s crew wasted countless chances that they will regret, totting up ten wides compared to Tipp’s four.

It was an impressive effort from the Premier however, who have bounced back well from an opening round defeat to Waterford with two major scalps. They led by 0-6 to 0-3 at the end of a first half in which defences dominated but disaster struck two minutes after the restart when Amy O’Connor’s attempt at a point ended up in the back of the net.  And for most of the game, it looked as if that might be enough, only for the Cork to make their own mistake when attempting to come out of defence with a hand-pass that wasn’t gathered. Tipp won the dirty ball and Eimear McGrath, who scored 3-7 in the defeat of Galway, drilled to the net on the half-hour.

Tipp led by a point when Karen Kennedy had her shot saved by Molly Lynch in the fifth minute of injury time and fellow sub, Niamh Treacy was on hand to finish the rebound to the net. 

Clodagh McIntyre who is settling in well to her new half back role had Tipp’s opening score of the game with a well taken score after combining with Roisin howard on the wing who was one of Tipperary’s standout performers on the day. Drom-Inch’s Mary Burke was awarded with her solid display against Galway 2 weeks previously with another start and she showed her strengths with a good point moments later. Cork began to get into their groove with Orlaith Mullins and Amy o’Connor getting their names on the scoreboard. Tipp’s accuracy was better though and they continued to take their chances with both Caoimhes McCarthy and Maher splitting the posts to leave the half time score 6 points to 3 in the visitors favour. Within 2 minutes of the restart the All-Ireland champions were in the lead with 1-01 from star forward Amy O’Connor. 

Tipp continued to work hard and attack the Cork defence but with 5 minutes remaining Cork looked to be heading for victory as they led 1-08 to 8 points. Caoimhe Maher pointed to reduce Cork’s lead to 2 points before player of the match McGrath struck a goal after Roisin Howard found the attacker with a hand pass. The resulting puck out fell to McGrath again and she split the posts to turn the game on its head and put Tipperary 2 points in front. An O’Connor free brought the gap back to one in an enthralling final few minutes of action. More great work by Rosin Howard and Caoimhe Perdue led to a Karen Kennedy shot which was saved by Molly Lynch in the Cork goal. The rebound fell to Niamh Treacy and she ensured the victory while Sorcha McCarten got a late consolation point.

Cork: Molly Lynch, Méabh Murphy, Libby Coppinger, Aoife Barrett; Izzy O’Regan, Ashling Thompson, Méabh Cahalane, Hannah Looney, Laura Hayes, Clíona Healy , Fiona Keating, Emma Murphy, Amy O’Connor (1-06, 4 frees), Orlaith Mullins(0-01), Sorcha McCartan(0-02, 2 frees).

Subs: Laura Treacy for Barrett (HT); Katrina Mackey for Healy (HT); Clodagh Finn (0-01) for Mullins ; Niamh O’Callaghan for E Murphy.

Tipperary: Nicole Walsh (Borris-Ileigh); Karin Blair (Cashel King Cormacs), Mairéad Eviston (Drom & Inch), Eimear Loughman (Clonoulty/Rossmore ; Clodagh McIntyre (0-01) (Lorrha), Ellen Cunneen (Silvermines), Caoimhe McCarthy (0-01) (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams); Teresa Ryan (Borris-Ileigh), Casey Hennessy (Clonoulty/Rossmore); Róisín Howard (0-01) (Cahir), Caoimhe Maher(0-02)(Burgess/Duharra), Grace Moloney (Cashel King Cormacs ); Eimear Heffernan (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams), Eimear McGrath (1-04, 3 frees)  (Drom & Inch), Mary Burke (0-01) (Drom & Inch).

Subs: Karen Kennedy (Thurles Sarsfields) for Heffernan (HT); Niamh Treacy(1-0) (Drom & Inch ) for Moloney (45); Caoimhe Perdue (Cashel King Cormacs) for Burke (48); Ciardha Maher (Burgess/Duharra) for Hennessy (52); Emma Carey (Thurles Sarsfields) for McIntyre (58 inj).