Tipperary juniors fall short against Cork in league opener

Very National Camogie League - Division 2B

Tipperary 0-9

Cork   1-10

By Ronan Loughnane

Tipperary Juniors got their National League campaign underway at a well-prepared County Camogie ground on Saturday afternoon last. A bitterly cold wind howled towards Borris and favoured the Rebels in the opening half. Showing several changes in personnel from last year Tipp were immediately under pressure against the elements with Cork registering five points in the opening sixteen minutes. 

An excellent take and turn from Cork’s Cliona Dooley landed the game's first score before Lauren Homan converted a free a minute later. Hannah O’Leary was a late replacement for Erinn Curtin and she stamped her authority on the game with three excellent points from play in the eighth, 11th, and 16th minutes to put her side five points to the good. 

Tipp had plenty of possession with Emma Kelly, Gemma Fox and Ciara Brennan working very hard, but several chances went begging. They finally got off the mark in the 21st minute when Eva O’Dwyer notched an excellent point from play. 

Jenny Grace pointed another in the 27th minute following excellent work from Brennan to leave just a single score between the teams but the minutes before and after the break were to prove crucial. Cork full-forward Niamh O’Regan pointed in the 28th minute before Homan closed the first half by scoring from a free to leave Cork 0-7 to 0-2 ahead at the short whistle. 

Five points was a small lead for Cork considering the breeze, but they got a huge tonic within seconds of the restart. Tipp were caught napping from the throw-in and Charleville’s Laura Doyle was allowed to run 60 yards before offloading to Homan who made no mistake to grab the game's only goal and give them a great platform from which to defend. 

The Premier had an uphill task ahead of them, but they certainly rose to the challenge. Anna Fahie and Jill Ann Quirke were sprung from the bench at half-time and added impetus in the middle third. Jenny Grace also grew into the game and added the next four points (two frees) without reply to halve the deficit with 19 minutes to go, 1-7 to 0-6. 

The ever-dangerous Dooley restored Cork’s half-time advantage a minute later before Kiladangan’s Sinead Meagher landed the point of the day from way out on the right wing. Homan replied with a pointed free before Brennan and Grace brought it back to a single-score game once again with ten minutes remaining. 

Meagher had a goal chance late on, but Molly Lynch in the Cork goal averted the danger. Homan had the final say from a free in the 63rd minute to leave Cork 1-10 to 0-9 ahead at the long whistle. 

Tipp will certainly be happy with their second-half display where they showed great determination to get back into the contest against a Cork team that will play in the Intermediate grade come championship. Gemma Fox, Emma Kelly, Ciara Brennan, and Jenny Grace were always to the fore while Jill Ann Quirke, Anna Fahie, and Lorna Ryan were all impressed when introduced. Tipp makes the journey to Clare on Saturday for Round 2 with a 2.30 pm throw-in. 

Tipperary:  Aoife O’Brien; Eimear Carey, Miriam Murphy, Ciara Ryan; Emma Kelly, Gemma Fox, Sophie Pembroke; Hazel Brennan, Caroline Shanahan; Jenny Grace (0-6, 0-4f), Sinead Meagher (0-1), Ciara Brennan (0-1); Amy Quinlisk, Laura Leenane, Eva O’Dwyer (0-1). 

Subs used: Anna Fahie for Brennan (HT); Jill Ann Quirke for O’Dwyer (HT); Lily Fahie for Leenane (46); Lorna Ryan for Kelly (52; Emma O’Sullivan for Shanahan (56); Amy Callanan for Grace (60, inj).

Referee: Ciaran Goff (Wicklow)