Tipperary preparing for Munster camogie championship semi-final against Waterford

Tipperary 4-13 Limerick 0-10

Three first half goals sent Tipperary comfortably on their way to the Munster Senior Camogie Championship semi-final and saw off the challenge of Limerick with predictable ease in a one-sided encounter at FBD Semple Stadium.

Tipp were hot favourites going into the contest and while they have played better than this this year, they were still far too strong for the Limerick women.

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Tipp will now face Waterford in the semi-final at the Tipperary County Camogie grounds at The Ragg this Sunday.

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Two goals in the opening quarter put Tipp firmly in control and they added another before the break, as the Shannonsiders struggled to match their pace and movement.

The initiative to play the camogie games before the senior hurling championship games is worthwhile and encourages patrons to come early for the hurling tie. But they were not impressed to discover that the Limerick team listed on the official programme in no way resembled the actual lineout, with great confusion between numbers and names. The game and the public deserve better on such a big occasion. For the record, the Tipp team was as listed on the programme.

Team captain Karen Kennedy, who missed most of the league campaign through injury, marked her return in style. Named unusually at number thirteen, she bagged two of the first half goals and looked very much the part of her All-Star status in everything she did.

Her first came after just forty seconds, as she shrugged off her marker to race in from the side and shoot to the net. In the twelfth minute she netted her second, fed by Róisín Howard to score for a 2-2 to 0-2 lead. Just on half-time, Róisín Howard was set up by Kennedy for Tipp’s third goal and an interval lead of 3-5 to 0-5.

There was nothing about Limerick’s first half display to suggest that they would make up the deficit in the second half, and so it transpired. A low-key third quarter ended with Tipp’s fourth goal from Clodagh McIntyre for a 4-7 to 0-8 lead and that was quickly followed by a further four unanswered Tipp points from Grace O’ Brien (three) and the lively Jean Kelly, who had just made her appearance.

By now both managements were emptying their benches. Two Limerick points were countered by responses from Jean Kelly and Grace O’Brien for Tipp to leave the Premier County girls fifteen points to the good at the finish.

Next up for Tipperary is a semi-final clash with Waterford while Cork, the recently-crowned league champions, meet Clare in their semi-final.

Manager Denis Kelly will need more from his charges for that game than they showed here. Perhaps their appetite was not as keen as normal due to their favouritism but, having said that, their win was never really in doubt and was achieved without getting into top gear.

Karen Kennedy’s selection at corner forward may have raised some eyebrows but she fully justified the decision, her two early goals sending Tipp on their way, with her overall play also of the highest order. Grace O’Brien’s accuracy from frees was also central to the Tipp win but all round Tipp were dominant with Eimear Loughman, Caoimhe Maher, Sarah Corcoran and Clodagh Quirke all on top of their game.

Limerick were out of their depth. Despite playing a sweeper, Caoimhe Costelloe, they were unable to match the quality and tenacity of their opponents, despite the best efforts of Caoimhe Costelloe, Sophie O’ Callaghan, Ailbhe Larkin, Caoimhe Costelloe and Muireann Creamer while goalkeeper Sarah Gillane could do nothing about the goals that beat her.

Tipperary: Laura Leenane (Shannon Rovers); Karin Blair (Cashel), Clodagh Quirke (Clonoulty/Rossmore),Eimear Loughman (Clonoulty/Rossmore); Caoimhe McCarthy (Knockavilla), Caoimhe Maher (Burgess), Caitlyn Treacy (Moneygall); Sarah Corcoran (Moycarkey), Casey Hennessy (Clonoulty); Róisín Howard (Cahir, 1-0), Ciara Brennan (Carrig-Riverstown), Clodagh McIntrye (Lorrha, 1-1); Karen Kennedy (Sarsfields, 2-1), Niamh Treacy (Drom-Inch), Grace O’ Brien (Nenagh,0-9, 7fs).

Subs: Lucy Purcell (Sarsfields) for Hennessy (h/t), Eimear Heffernan (Knockavilla) for Brennan (38), Aoife McGrath (Drom-Inch) for C Treacy (45 mins), Jean Kelly (Annacarty, 0-2) for N Treacy (46 mins), Amy Quinlisk (Kilruane) for McIntyre (50 mins); Sophie Pembroke for McCarthy (51 mins), Anna Gavin (Holycross) for Quirke (51 mins).

Limerick: Sarah Gillane; Teresa Dore, Muireann Creamer, Emily O’ Halloran; Karen Cunningham, Sophie O’Callaghan, Ciara O’ Riordan; Shauna Cunningham, Ailbhe Larkin (0-1); Mairead Ryan, Lizanne Boylan, Stephanie Woulfe (0-1); Orlaith Kelleher (0-1), Caoimhe Costelloe(0-6,3fs), Laura Southern (0-1).

Subs: Ciara Neenan for K Cunningham, Aine Foley for Dore; Cliona Ryan for Riordan; Anne Egan for Boylan; Liza English for Woulfe, Aine Ó Tiernigh for O’Halloran.

Referee: Andy Larkin (Cork).