Tipperary set up enticing quarter-final clash with Kilkenny after easily defeating Clare

Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship - Group 1 - Round 5

Tipperary 4-17

Clare 0-10

By Michael Dundon

An emphatic 19-point win over Clare in round five of Group 1 of the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie championship at Semple Stadium on Saturday last sees Tipperary through to a quarter-final joust with Kilkenny.

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Three unanswered goals in 14 minutes between the 12th and 26th minutes powered Tipp into an unassailable position by the interval (3-9 to 0-5), and with a 13-point lead at half-time, the second half was a formality, allowing manager Denis Kelly to make full use of his bench.

Both teams were assured of a quarter-final spot beforehand. At issue was who would be paired against whom from group two in the knock-out stages, and while there are no easy ties at this stage, Tipp’s performance on Saturday gives them every reason for optimism despite the magnitude of the challenge facing them next time out.

Tipp, breeze aided at the start, moved into a 0-5 to 0-3 lead after eleven minutes, five separate scorers being on target, an early indication that the Premier girls were “on song”. Clare were battling hard, but in the 12th minute, Grace O’Brien set up Mary Burke for Tipp’s first goal.

The real damage was done approaching the break when, in the twenty fourth minute Casey Hennessy was set up by Karen Kennedy for Tipp’s second goal and two minutes later Grace O’Brien got the finishing touch in a goal-mouth scramble for a third Tipp goal and an interval lead of 3-9 to 0-5.

There was really no way back for Clare, and even though Tipperary had taken their foot off the pedal in the second half, they still outscored their rivals 1-8 to 0-5. The fourth goal came on 43 minutes when Mary Burke set up Casey Hennessy for her second goal of the game and a 4-12 to 0-7 lead. 

By then, the Tipp manager was enjoying the luxury of allowing his fringe players to taste the action, with Jean Kelly in particular making a very favourable impression in the closing quarter.

This win should boost Tipp greatly ahead of their quarter-final clash with Kilkenny. They were strong, competitive, and creative in all they did, and from team captain All-Star Karen Kennedy, they got inspirational leadership; her surges forward into attack causing Clare problems all day. 

Grace O’Brien’s free-taking is a huge asset to Tipp, and Casey Hennessy bagged two goals in an impressive showing.

Full marks too to the Tipp defence, which, after some early hesitancy, tightened up on the Clare attack, limiting them to five points from play. 

Mairead Eviston and Eimear Loughman stood out while goalkeeper Laura Leenane did her bit, denying Clare a late consolation goal with a smart save of Caoimhe Cahill’s effort for the Banner girls. Jean Kelly’s impressive last quarter off the bench should bring her into the frame for a starting position in the quarter-final.

Clare’s cause was not helped either by the loss of Jennifer Daly to a red card after 53 minutes for an awkward tackle, but by that time, the game was well gone from them, and her exclusion had no bearing on the result.

Clare will have to pick themselves up before their quarter-final clash, and they have some work to do if they are to further their ambitions. Five points from play is way below what’s required to win matches at this level. 

In Roisin Begley they had a fast, elusive forward who was a real threat. Clare Hehir, Abby Walsh, Danielle Griffin, and the unfortunate Jennifer Daly did all they could, but did not have the necessary back-up.

Tipperary: Laura Leenane (Shannon Rovers); Niamh Costigan (Cahir), Karin Blair (Cashel King Cormacs, 0-1), Eimear  Loughman(Clonoulty Rossmore); Caoimhe McCarthy (Knockavilla Kickhams), Mairead Eviston (Drom & Inch), Sarah Corcoran (Moycarkey Borris); Karen Kennedy (Thurles Sarsfields, 0-1), Caoimhe Maher (Burgess Duharra, 0-1); Roisin Howard (Cahir, 0-1), Mary Burke (Drom & Inch, 1-0), Eimear Heffernan (Knockavilla Kickhams, 0-1); Clodagh McIntyre (Lorrha, 0-1), Casey Hennessy (Clonoulty Rossmore, 2-1), Grace O’Brien (Silvermines, 1-8, 0-6f).

Subs used: Julianne Burke (Drom & Inch) for McCarthy (HT); Emma Carey (Thurles Sarsfields) for Costigan (44); Jean Kelly (Éire Óg Annacarty, 0-2) for Hennessy (44); Amy Quinlisk (Kilruane McDonaghs) for Howard (48); Niamh Cunneen (Silvermines) for McIntyre (48).

Clare: Doireann Murphy; Susan Daly, Clare Hehir (0-2, 0-1f), Sinead O’Keeffe; Lynda Daly, Abby Walsh, Danielle Griffin; Niamh Mulqueen, Caoimhe Carmody; Caoimhe Cahill (0-1), Grace Carmody, Jennifer Daly; Roisin Begley (0-2), Aine O’Loughlin, Zi Yan Spillane (0-3f). 

Subs used: Cliodhana Queally for Mulqueen (21); Aoife Andersen for G Carmody (HT); Andrea O’Keeffe (0-1) for S O’Keeffe (HT); Ellen Casey for Spillane (41); Ciara Grogan for C Carmody (43); Aisling Cooney (0-1f) for O’Louglin (49).

Referee: Barry Nea (Westmeath)

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