Tipperary senior camogie team's unbeaten start to league ended by Cork in tight encounter

Very National Camogie League - Division 1 - Round 3

Tipperary 1-12

Cork 1-14

Tipperary’s unbeaten start in Division One of  the National Camogie League came to an end at the Ragg on Saturday afternoon last following a great tussle with Cork. 

It may have been cold for the fine crowd of supporters in attendance, but there was no chance of anyone catching cold between the white lines. 

The game was full of hard work and endeavour right from the off with the intensity only dropping occasionally throughout the contest. 

Cork opened the scoring with a free from Amy O’Connor in the third minute following a foul on Cliona Healy, before a lovely point from play from Grace O’Brien got Tipp off the mark. 

The sweepers were in action at both ends with Cork’s Laura Tracey very dominant early on. 

A Chloe Sigerson free restored the Rebels lead in the seventh minute before three points in three minutes courtesy of Eimear McGrath and a brace from O’Brien, who was causing endless problems for the Cork defence, had Tipp 0-4 to 0-2 ahead. 

The vocal home crowd were enjoying themselves but an excellent Cork move in the 11th minute was finished to the net by Orlaith Cahalane, to silence the home supporters. 

Tipp replied through a McGrath free, but despite having quite an amount of possession they were struggling to beat the sweeper with their delivery. 

Cork then hit a purple patch as they landed six unanswered points between the 16th and 26th minute courtesy of Amy O’Connor (3), Sorcha McCarten, Fiona Keating and Cliona Healy. 

The Rebels were rampant and Tipp needed half-time and a chance to regroup. 

Mary Ryan replaced the injured Karin Blair in the 28th minute before two crucial frees from Eimear McGrath reduced the deficit to four at the short whistle, 1-8 to 0-7. Tipp had stemmed the tide but needed to bring the match and the crowd to life. 

Eimear Heffernan and Cait Devane were introduced at the break for Casey Hennessy and Courtney Ryan and within three minutes of the resumption, the stand was back in full voice. 

McGrath opened the scoring from a free and then won the next ball before laying it off to Roisin Howard who in turn fed O’Brien who levelled the game with a low shot to Amy Lee’s net. 

Amy O’ Connor showed lightning speed to put Cork one up again before the hard-working Howard made it 1-9 apiece in the 37th minute. 

It was a real battle now with every ball fiercely contested. Tipp had pushed Karen Kennedy to midfield for the second half where she and Teresa Ryan had a great battle with Saoirse McCarthy and Fiona Keating. 

Clodagh Quirke took over as sweeper and she was now exerting a strong influence on the game while both cornerbacks, Julieanne Bourke and Eimear Loughman, got to grips with the Cork inside forwards. 

Cliona Healy’s second point nosed Cork ahead in the 41st minute before a powerful score from the ever-improving Caoimhe Maher squared it up once more in the 48th minute following good work from McGrath. 

The game was anyone’s at this stage and perhaps Tipp could have had a couple of more frees from Westmeath referee John Darmody. The crowd certainly thought so. 

But it was Cork that got the next one which Sorcha Cahalane duly converted before substitute Emma Murphy doubled their lead in the 55th minute. 

McGrath pulled one back following great work from Teresa Ryan (1-12 to 1-11) but as both sides understandably tired, space opened up during the eight minutes of added time. 

Both Cork midfielders landed points while sub Grace Moloney replied for Tipp to leave the Rebels 1-14 to 1-12 ahead at the long whistle. 

Tipp will be very happy with many aspects of their play while knowing they also have plenty to work on ahead of their final two games against Clare and Kilkenny. 

Tipperary: Caoimhe Bourke; Julieanne Bourke, Clodagh Quirke, Eimear Loughman; Karin Blair, Karen Kennedy, Ciardha Maher; Teresa Ryan, Casey Hennessy; Roisin Howard (0-1), Mairead Eviston, Caoimhe Maher (0-1); Grace O’Brien (1-3), Eimear McGrath (0-6, 0-5f), Courtney Ryan. 

Subs: Mary Ryan for Blair (28, inj); Cait Devane for C Ryan (HT); Eimear Heffernan for Hennessy (HT); Mary Burke for Ciardha Maher (52); Anna Fahie for McGrath (60); Grace Moloney (0-1) for O’Brien (62).

Cork: Amy Lee; Meabh Murphy, Libby Coppinger, Meabh Cahalane; Hannah Looney, Laura Treacy, Laura Hayes; Saoirse McCarthy (0-1), Fiona Keating (0-2);  Izzy O’Regan,  Chloe Sigerson (0-1f),  Cliona Healy (0-2);  Amy O’Connor (0-5, 0-3f), Orlaith Cahalane (1-0), Sorcha McCarten (0-2, 0-1f).

Subs: Emma Murphy (0-1) for Sigerson; Aoife Healy for Looney.

Referee: John Darmody (Westmeath)