Fruitful trip north for Tipperary who demolish Derry in All-Ireland clash

Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Championship

Tipperary 5-22

Derry 0-13

Tipperary made it two wins from two in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Championship with a comfortable win over Derry on Saturday in the Derry Centre of Excellence. 

Clodagh McIntyre got Tipperary off the mark with early scores but the Derry response was good and they quickly tied up the game two points apiece thanks to scores from Orlaith Hull and Aoife Shaw. 

With the advantage of the breeze and some excellent movement in attack, Tipperary began to tap on the scores through Eimear McGrath and Roisin Howard. McGrath then showed her class with a perfectly executed sideline worth two points in camogie to stretch the visitor's lead to six with 10 minutes gone (Tipperary 0-8 Derry 0-2). 

A good move involving Orlaith Hull and Aoife Shaw resulted in another point for Shaw before Olivia Rafferty made it two on the trot for the 2023 Intermediate champions. This made it 0-8 points to 0-4 at the end of the first quarter. U

Unfortunately for Derry, Tipperary found another gear in the second quarter that Derry couldn’t live with. Goals from Eimear McGrath and Róisín Howard, along with some excellent shooting from Clodagh McIntyre and Grace O’Brien established a 2-16 to 0-6 lead at half-time. Derry struggled to break down the Tipperary defence with Karen Kennedy and Karin Blair in particular in superb form. 

Tipperary got the opening point of the second half and moments later Róisín Howard bagged her second goal of the game after a pin-point accurate pass from Eimear McGrath. 

This was followed by another goal from Tipp this time from Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickham’s Eimear Heffernan as Tipperary continued to heap the pressure on the Derry defence. 

Derry then enjoyed a much-needed good spell which yielded three points in succession with captain Aoife Ni Chaiside getting her name on the scoresheet followed by two points from Aine Barton including a 45-metre placed ball. 

Again, though Tipperary showed a real ruthless streak in front of goal and Clodagh McIntyre struck their fifth goal of the game to make it 5-18 to 0-9. Both sides exchanged points including frees from Aine Barton and Eimear McGrath as the clock ticked down. 

While substitute Jean Kelly also split the post for Tipperary. In the end, it was all too easy for the league champions as they ran out 5-22 to 0-13 winners. Next up for Tipp is the meeting of Antrim this Saturday at 2 pm in the County Camogie Grounds in the Ragg. 

Tipperary: Nicole Walsh; Julieanne Bourke, Mairead Eviston, Eimear Loughman; Karin Blair, Karen Kennedy, Clodagh Quirke; Casey Hennessy, Mary Ryan; Róisín Howard (2-2), Caoimhe Maher, Clodagh McIntyre (1-4); Eimear Heffernan (1-1), Eimear McGrath (1-11, 0-7f,  0-1 sl-cut), Grace O’Brien (0-3).

Subs used: Aoife McGrath for Clodagh Quirke (HT); Jean Kelly (0-1) for Grace O’Brien (35); Cait Devane for Roisin Howard (39); Ellen Cunneen for Casey Hennessy (45); Mary Burke for Karen Kennedy (51).

Derry: Niamh Gribben; Ceat McEldowney, Niamh Quinn, Sinead McGill; Rachel Downey, Megan Donnelly, Aoife Ni Chaiside (0-1); Aine McGill (0-1), Dervla O’Kane; Olivia Rafferty (0-1), Aine Barton (0-4, 0-2f, 0-1 45m), Orlaith Hull (0-2); Aoife Shaw (0-2), Brid Rogers, Aimee Lennon (0-2).

Subs used: Leah Lennon for Sinead McGill; Rachel McAllister for Dervla O’Kane; Jackie Donnelly for Orlaith Hull. 

Referee: Gavin Donegan (Dublin)