Tipperary juniors respond well to opening defeat with away win over Clare

VERY Division 2B National Camogie League – Round 2

Clare 0-12

Tipperary 2-7

Tipperary travelled to Meelick GAA in Clare on Saturday for round 2 of the VERY Division 2b National Camogie League. In a repeat of last year’s Junior All-Ireland final Tipperary were out for revenge and two second-half goals from Sinead Meagher and Amy Quinlisk proved crucial as the visitors clinched a one-point victory. 

Both sides traded early points to leave the score 0-4 to 0-3 to the home side after 10 minutes. Tipperary had to line out without centre-back Gemma Fox who was sick so Orla O’Brien started in midfield and Lily Fahie started at number 6. With Jennifer Daly in fine form, Clare finished the half strong to take a three-point lead at the break 0-8 to 0-5. 

Sinead Meagher was excellent for Bill Mullaney’s side winning lots of possession and giving a masterclass in high catching. Clare were struggling to mark her and in the 42nd minute, she struck a wonder goal to give Tipperary the lead 1-6 to 0-8. 

Aoife O’Brien was her usual reliable self in the Tipperary goals and impressed by keeping a clean sheet she was ably assisted by Maria Connolly at full-back while Clonoulty Rossmore’s Lorna Ryan was excellent at wing-back. 

Ciara Brennan was switched to midfield during the game and this also worked well as she broke up the Clare dominance and fed plenty of ball into her forwards where Amy Quinlisk, Jill-Anne Quirke and substitute Jenny Grace all got on the scoreboard. 

Tipp held Clare to just four second-half points,  with three of those coming from Caoimhe Cahill frees and a point from play from Jennifer Daly. A second Tipp goal this time from Kilruane MacDonagh’s Amy Quinlisk ensured a one-point win for Tipperary and their first points in the league after their defeat in round 1 to Cork. Next up is an away trip to Wexford on the February 17th.

Tipperary: Aoife O’Brien; Emma Carey, Maria Connolly, Tara Hoare; Lorna Ryan, Lily Fahie, Emma Kelly; Orla O’Brien, Sophie Pembroke; Anna Fahie (0-1), Sinead Meagher (1-2), Ciara Brennan; Amy Quinlisk (1-1), Jill-Ann Quirke (0-1) Saoirse McGrath (0-1).

Subs used: Jenny Grace (0-1) for Lilly Fahie; Emma Flanagan for Saoirse McGrath; Miriam Murphy for Emma Kelly.

Clare: Sophie Cullen; Rebecca Crow, Caoimhe Lally, Sinead Hogg; Jennifer Nicholas, Ellen Casey, Sinead O’Keefe; Niamh Mulqueen, Grace Carmody (0-1); Jennifer Daly (0-3), Laoibhse O’Donnell, Aoife Anderson (0-1); Danielle Beston (0-1), Aisling Cooney (0-1f), Hannah Mai Neylon (0-1).

Subs used: Caoimhe Cahill (0-3f).

Referee: Karol Collins (Galway)