CHAMPIONS: Tipperary senior camogie team win the Morrissey Cup with skill and style!

A quality display of style, skill and strength was enough for Tipperary to claim their first piece of silverware since 2010 at FBD Semple Stadium on Saturday last.

A confident and determined side took the field in the Munster senior camogie final then soon after Denis Kelly's team simply blew away an outclassed Clare side. 

From the throw in, Tipp attacked and the ball sailed over the ball after twelve seconds of action. Two more followed in a couple of minutes to leave Tipperary three up with Clare hardly hitting a ball.

The early Caoimhe Maher, Teresa Ryan and Cáit Devane scores signalled the intent and purpose Tipp had. 

Clare tried to stem the flow but Eimear McGrath pointed on eight minutes and things started looking bleak for Clare until Lorna McNamara pointed on nine minutes. 

The visitors were forced to go defensive to stem the flow of the ball to the Tipp forwards but it played in to Tipp hands because at centre back for Tipperary, sweeper Karen Kennedy just kept hitting ball after ball while completely unmarked. 

The Thurles Sarsfields star was immense all through the game and dictated what happened further up the field as she was chief supplier for Denis Kelly's team. 

Caoimhe Maher went for goal for Tipp on the ten minute mark but was denied by a good save from the Clare keeper. Tipp pushed on taking their points and at the quarter mark were six up on an 0-8 to 0-2 scoreline. 

Clare kept some pressure on Tipp but the game ended as a contest when, on 25 minutes, Eimear Heffernan put the nail in the Banner coffin.

With three defenders after her somehow she finished a speedy run off with a finely struck shot past Doireann Murphy in the Clare goals. 

At 1- 9 to 0-4 Clare hit damage control measures and retreated numbers towards their goal until the break.  

It didn't stop Tipp though. McNamara struck a couple of points for the saffron clad crew but Tipperary went in 1-12 to 0-6 up at half time with Clare looking lost in the big stadium. 

Ball was sticking for the Tipp forwards and a fine spread of scorers meant there was no one area Clare could focus on to get back into the game. 

They tried all the same. On the restart Clare hit Tipp with everything they had and produced their best spell of the match. 

Áine O’Loughlin jumped to fetch from the sky a dropping McNamara free and she fired a bullet past the Tipp keeper.

Aoife Keane followed with a point but shortly after Tipperary took over again and stamped their dominance on the game. 

Point after point sailed over. Cait Devane and Grace O'Brien were glad of quality ball sent in by Casey Hennessy and the peerless Karen Kennedy.

Tipp rolled on the substitutes but the intensity didn't drop. 

Mary Ryan, who hurled when Tipp won this title last back in 2010, came on in defence and contributed to the cause. The final whistle brought scenes of great joy.

Overall it was a comprehensive victory against a Clare side that never got near the level Tipp were hurling at.

Stalwarts Mary Ryan and Cait Devane were part of the county team that last won silverware back in 2010.

 On Saturday evening last, Cait Devane said winning this time around was a fantastic feeling: "To win this is great for our team and rewards the effort put in all winter and spring. The manager said to us beforehand that all the effort was for days like today."

Tipperary boss Denis Kelly said it was a special day: "We are thrilled. It is something we have been trying to do for so long and to get over the line is just brilliant. We will get ready to go again soon for the All-Ireland series." the Toomevara native said. 

The All Ireland series begins in four weeks and Tipp will approach it differently now than in other years.

This time as Munster champions. The new era is here now. 

Scorers for Tipperary: E McGrath (0-6, 0-4 frees, 0-1 45), E Heffernan (1-3), C Devane and G O’Brien (0-4 each), C Maher (0-3), R Howard (0-2), T Ryan, K Blair, E Fryday and C McCarthy (0-1 each).

Scorers for Clare: L McNamara (0-6 frees), Á O’Loughlin (1-0), Z Spillane, O Duggan and A Keane (0-1 each).

TIPPERARY: C Bourke; J Bourke, C Quirke (J-Capt), E Loughman; K Blair, K Kennedy (J-Capt), A McGrath; T Ryan, C Hennessy; R Howard, C Maher, E McGrath; G O’Brien, C Devane, E Heffernan.

Subs: C McCarthy for E McGrath (49), N Treacy for C Hennessy (51), M Eviston for E Loughman (52), M Ryan for A McGrath (54), E Fryday G O’Brien (54).

CLARE: D Murphy; C Grogan, S Daly, C Kelly, A Ryan, C Hehir (J-Capt), A Walsh; C Carmody, O Duggan; M Scanlon, N O’Dea (J-Capt), A Keane; E Kelly, Á O’Loughlin, L McNamara.

Subs: A Spillane for A Ryan (half-time), C Morey for M Scanlon (42), E Casey for C Grogan (44), L Daly for C Carmody (45), J Daly for E Kelly (53).

Referee: Andy Larkin (Cork).