Tipperary show no mercy to thrash Treaty in demolishing job in Cappamore

All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship - Group 1 - Round 4

Tipperary 4-26 

Limerick 0-8

By Joe Scully

Tipperary ensured qualification to the All-Ireland Senior Camogie quarterfinals with a game to spare after a powerful and commanding performance away to Limerick on Saturday afternoon. 

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The away side were always in control from the first minute, and the thirty-point winning margin was a fair reflection on the game overall, as Tipp showed there most definitely a team to be reckoned with and are warming up nicely as the championship heads towards the knockout stages. 

It was an awe-inspiring team performance, with eleven different scorers overall, and the bench also made a strong impact, contributing 2-05 from the subs, showcasing the depth that manager Denis Kelly has available to him this year. 

The basis for the win was laid down in the first half, after which by the end the Premier Ladies had racked up 2-12 whilst only conceding just a solitary point, as their defence was excellent, giving absolutely nothing away. 

Limerick, to their credit, came out fighting in the second half and had a period where they racked up a few scores, and the game was more even, but as was the case in the first half, Tipp would once again take total control and see out the game strongly.

It took till the fifth minute for the opening score, with the impressive Grace O’Brien pointing, which was soon followed by a Roisin Howard effort. 

Full back Karin Blair then sauntered up the field and from distance added her side's third. Eimear Heffernan added the fourth in the sixth minute following a fine team move, and three minutes later, Clodagh McIntyre was on the mark after blasting over from close range. 

Grace O’Brien then added two more a free and a 45, which was soon followed by a point each from Heffernan and Howard. In the 20th minute and Tipp struck for their first goal when, after a trademark Karen Kennedy run, she played a one-two with Roisin Howard before finishing emphatically to the back of the net. 

Clodagh McIntyre added another point soon after a Karen Kennedy shot had been well saved, and McIntyre tapped over the rebound. 

The home side finally got off the mark in the 25th minute when Caoimhe Costello knocked over a free, but it was Tipp and Grace O’Brien who finished the half stronger with the Nenagh native hitting 1-2 in the final five minutes, with her goal which came after a long ball was played in and she made a superb catch, before turning her marker and finishing to the back of the net sandwiched in between two frees.

The start of the second half didn’t get much better for the Treaty County, with the away side adding 1-1 in the first two minutes, with O’Brien adding another free, before half-time sub Lucy Purcell tapped in from close range after a Roisin Howard shot had been saved. 

Limerick added their second score in the third minute of the half when Stephanie Woulfe pointed, but less than a minute later, O’Brien added to her own personal tally with a well-worked individual score. Caoimhe Costello then added a free for the home side, before another half-time sub, Caoimhe Maher hit two fine scores from play to extend the lead. 

Limerick would finally get a bit of momentum and would hit three scores in a row, first a fine effort from Liz Boylan, then a Costello free, before Woulfe added her second from out by the sideline. 

Tipp added another in the 43rd minute when, following a good team move, Roisin Howard added her third of the day. Limerick added their seventh in the 45th minute when corner back Orlaith Kelleher hit one of the scores of the game following a barnstorming run, before pointing from out by the sideline from halfway. 

Another spell of dominance from Tipp would follow as they hit 1-7 without reply, with sub-Jean Kelly finding the back of the net in the 47th minute after she won the ball off a Limerick defender, before finishing smartly past the keeper. 

O’Brien added a 45, before Karin Blair added her second following a strong run and finish, with Clodagh McIntyre, Niamh Cunneen, Roisin Howard, with another McIntyre again and Jean Kelly all added points from play to leave the score 4-24 to 0-7 after 56 minutes. 

Limerick would then hit their final score of the game in the final minute when Orlaith Kelleher struck again with a similar score to her previous one. 

Tipp finished out the game with two points in added time from the stick of Jean Kelly and then Caoimhe McCarthy to put the icing on a very impressive performance. Next up for the Premier County is a home tie against Clare on Saturday, safe in the knowledge that a quarter-final place has been secured.

Tipperary: Laura Leenane; Niamh Costigan, Karin Blair, (0-2), Eimear Loughman; Caoimhe McCarthy (0-1), Mairead Eviston, Ellen Cunneen; Karen Kennedy (1-0), Niamh Treacy; Roisin Howard (0-4), Mary Burke, Eimear Heffernan (0-2); Clodagh McIntyre (0-4), Casey Hennessy, Grace O’Brien (1-8, 0-6f).

Subs used: Lucy Purcell (1-0) for M Burke (HT); Caoimhe Maher (0-2) for N Treacy (HT); Jean Kelly (1-2) for C Hennessy (41); Sarah Corcoran for E Cunneen (41); Niamh Cunneen (0-1) for  E Heffernan (46); Emma Carey for N Costigan (54); Sarah Madden for R Howard (57).

Limerick: Sarah Gillane; Orlaith Kelleher (0-2), Muireann Creamer, Emily O’Halloran; Ciara O’Riordan, Sophie O’Callaghan, Shauna Cunningham; Ailbhe Larkin, Mairead Ryan; Lizanna Boylan (0-1), Stephanie Woulfe (0-2), Ciara Neenan; Dearbhla Egan, Laura Southern, Caoimhe Costello (0-3f).

Subs used: Aine O’Tiarnaigh for C O’Riordan (HT); Teresa Dore for E O’Halloran (48); Aine Foley for A Larkin (44); Lisa English for S Woulfe (44); Cliodhna Ryan for C Neenan (53).

Referee: Gavin Donegan (Dublin)

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