Tipperary junior camogie team into Munster final after impressive defeat of Cork on Saturday

Junior Munster Camogie Championship Semi-Final

Tipperary 1-10

Cork 1-6

Tipperary advanced to the Munster Junior Camogie final with a hard fought win over Cork at the County Camogie grounds in the Ragg on Saturday afternoon last.

There was very little to separate these two with Jean Kelly’s late strike ultimately proving the difference in a game that never really took off. Tipp had the aid of a strong breeze in the opening half but failed to capitalise on a number of good chances.

Shannon Rovers Aoife McLoughney got them up and running from a free in the third minute before Nicole Olden replied in kind for Cork in the tenth minute. Both sides were guilty of some poor shooting from play and frees. McLoughney and Olden traded frees once more to leave the sides tied at 0-2 each after twenty minutes.

Tipp were working hard with Amy Callanan and Aoife Dwyer to the fore. They landed two points in quick succession in the 21st and 22nd minutes through another McLoughney free and the opening point from play from Jean Kelly. Olden cut the deficit to one with a free before Boherlahan’s Clodagh Horgan scored a nice free from distance.

Tipp were hit hard in first half injury time when Cork struck for 1-1. Another Olden free made it 0-5 to 0-4 before a great delivery from Aisling Shannon was brilliantly caught by Ella Wigginton Barrett who rattled the net to leave the Rebels two ahead.

Crucially Horgan landed her second free just before the short whistle and Tipp went in just a point down. There was plenty of cause for concern though as Tipp had to turn and face the elements after the welcome cup of tea.

Scores were as rare as hens teeth in the third quarter with Olden (2) and McLoughney landing frees to leave Cork two ahead with fifteen to go. Ciara McKeogh, Eimear Murphy and Eimear Moyles were introduced for Tipp in place of Rachel O’Dwyer, Ellen Cunneen and Ciannait Walsh, the latter a surprising one as she had been playing quite well.

The handy sized crowd all made a dash for the stand shortly after as the darkening sky above sent the rain down in buckets for the next ten minutes. McLoughney added another free before Horgan landed a beauty in the middle of the downpour.
It was anyone’s game now. Tipp sent for further reinforcements as Caroline Shanahan was introduced.

Then came the game breaker. Cork dithered in defence with the ball eventually falling to Kelly who made no mistake to find the back of the Rebels net.

McLoughney had the final say with another free to leave Tipp four ahead at the long whistle. On the balance of play Tipp just about deserved the victory, scoring eleven times to Cork’s seven. They now go forward to face Limerick in the Munster final.

Great credit to the ground staff at the Ragg who had the pitch in excellent condition despite all the recent rain.

Tipperary: Aoife O’Brien; Ellie Butler, Aisling Sheedy, Ciara Ryan; Ciannait Walsh, Lisa Cahill, Amy Callanan; Clodagh Horgan (0-3, 0-2f), Ellen Cunneen; Aoife Dwyer, Rachel O’Dwyer, Sarah Madden; Jean Kelly (1-1), Claire Stakelum, Aoife McLoughney (0-6f).

Subs: Ciara McKeogh for Walsh (43), Eimear Moyles for O’Dwyer (43), Eimear Murphy for Cunneen (45), Caroline Shanahan for Dwyer (53).

Cork: Ciara Hurley; Ella Foley, Miriam Cotter, Laura Buttimer; Orla Keating, Aisling Shannon, Thea Coleman; Annie Condon, Ciara Hughes; Katelynn Dinneen, Sara Morrisson, Caoimhe Murphy; Sinead Hurley, Ella Wigginton-Barrett (1-0), Nicole Olden (0-6f).

Subs: Julie Tarrant for Morrisson (28), Emma Fitzpatrick for Walsh (53).

Referee: Mike Flannery (Limerick)