Tipperary seniors continue good form with excellent away win in out West

VERY Ireland National Camogie League - Division 1A - Round 3

Tipperary 2-14

Galway 1-13

Tipperary handed Galway their first defeat of the year in the VERY Ireland Division 1A league on Saturday, running out 2-14 to 1-13 winners at Kilbeacanty GAA. 

In a game of two contrasting halves, the first was a free-flowing shootout, while the second saw Tipperary’s work rate and defensive strength prove decisive.

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Galway opened the scoring in the second minute with a point from Mairead Dillon, quickly followed by scores from Niamh Mallon and Ailish O'Reilly. 

Tipperary responded through two frees from Grace O’Brien, but Galway’s inside forward line looked dangerous early on, as Caoimhe Kelly struck two in succession to maintain their lead. Jean Kelly and another O’Brien free kept Tipp in touch before Kelly added her third for the Tribeswomen.

Olwen Rabbitte and Roisin Howard landed excellent points for Galway before Grace O’Brien raised another white flag.  O’Brien’s influence continued to grow as she added two more from play before Carrie Dolan converted a free for the home side. 

Caoimhe McCarthy responded from wing-back for Tipp, but Mallon was on target again for Galway. A Grace O’Brien 45’ was matched by another Dolan free before Sarah Corcoran found the target for Tipperary. 

With the game finely poised at 0-11 apiece approaching half-time, O’Brien struck a crucial goal just before the interval, giving Tipp a 1-11 to 0-11 lead at the break.

The second half was a much tighter affair, with both defences stepping up and space at a premium. The first score didn’t arrive until the 40th minute when Mairead Dillon found the net for Galway, bringing the sides level once again. 

Tipperary’s response was immediate, with O’Brien converting two frees before Clodagh McIntyre’s decisive goal pushed them five clear.

Dolan and O’Brien exchanged frees, while Olwen Rabbitte added another point for Galway, but Tipp’s incredible work rate and defensive resilience saw them close out the game strongly. 

The half-back line of Mairéad Eviston, Caoimhe McCarthy, and Sarah Corcoran was outstanding, while Casey Hennessy covered every blade of grass in a relentless second-half effort.

With their hunger and intensity shining through in the latter stages, Tipperary held firm to secure a hard-earned 2-14 to 1-13 victory, laying down a marker in the league campaign.

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Tipperary: Laura Leenane; Clodagh Quirke, Julieanne Bourke, Eimear Loughman; Caoimhe McCarthy (0-1), Mairéad Eviston, Sarah Corcoran (0-1); Casey Hennessy, Niamh Treacy; Roisín Howard (0-1), Mary Burke, Clodagh McIntyre (1-0); Jean Kelly (0-1), Caoimhe Maher, Grace O’Brien (1-10, 0-7f, 0-1 45).

Galway: Sarah Healy; Shauna Healy, Dervla Higgins, Rachael Hanniffy; Ciara Hickey, Emma Helebert, Katie Manning; Aine Keane (0-1), Olwen Rabbitte (0-2); Carrie Dolan (0-3, 0-2f), Ailish O'Reilly (0-1), Sabina Rabbitte; Mairead Dillon (1-1), Niamh Mallon (0-2), Caoimhe Kelly (0-3)/

Referee: Brian Kearney (Kildare)