Tipperary boss Kelly delighted with response to opening round loss

Tipperary senior camogie manager Denis Kelly was a happy man after he had seen his charges defeat Galway by three points in division 1 A of the National League at The Ragg on Saturday, a result which keeps Tipperary in the loop for league honours.

The former Toomevara star’s immediate reaction at the final whistle was to salute the character of his squad, who, despite being reduced to fourteen players for the second half with the somewhat harsh sidelining of Cahir’s Roisin Howard for a second yellow card, dug deep to see off the Galway challenge.

It was a vital result as Tipp had lost agonisingly to Waterford in round one. A second defeat would surely have scuppered their chances of making the knock-out stages and would have left them battling to avoid relegation.

“It was a great win, particularly when we were down to fourteen players. Our backs were to the wall but the girls showed great character. They really gave it everything and I am very happy for them that we got the win”, he said.

This was Tipp’s second successive win over Galway and that too pleased the manager.” Galway are up there with the best in the country. To beat them is great and this is our second win over them, so I am very happy with that, he added.

Next up for Tipperary is a trip to Cork the week-end after this, a challenging undertaking. “It’s never easy going down there to face them. Cork are a formidable side but we will be going all out to turn them over”, he said.

The good news for Tipp is that some more of the established regulars who have been sidelined with injuries are coming back into the frame. Tipp welcomed back Mairead Eviston, Eimear Loughman, and Mary Burke for the Galway game. The manager is hopeful that All-Star centre back Karen Kennedy will soon be ready for action. Likewise Aoife McGrath, Grace of Brien, and Mary Ryan, all of whom missed the Galway encounter.

Steady progress is being made and a clearer picture of where Tipperary are will be seen after the Cork encounter.