PREVIEW: Tipperary camogie will look to ride the Premier wave in All-Ireland semi-final

Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship Semi-Final Preview

Tipperary vs Galway, Saturday, July 26 in UPMC Nowlan Park @ 3pm

Tipperary head into this weekend’s Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship Semi-Final with momentum behind them following a thrilling quarter-final victory over Kilkenny at Croke Park.

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It was a high-stakes encounter that went to extra time, with Clodagh McIntyre’s vital goal and a crucial penalty save by Lauren Leenane helping Tipp edge over the line.

Their path to the semi-finals has shown both grit and progression. Despite losing their opening group game to Cork in The Ragg, Tipperary bounced back strongly with impressive wins over Wexford, Limerick, and Clare to finish second in the group. That set up the quarter-final showdown with Kilkenny, a match that tested every ounce of their resilience.

Lauren Leenane has been a model of consistency in goals throughout the campaign, providing a composed and dependable presence. Mairéad Eviston has excelled in the pivotal centre-back role, while wing-back Caoimhe McCarthy picked up player of the match following a fantastic quarter-final display. 

At midfield, the pairing of Karen Kennedy and Caoimhe Maher has been hugely influential. Their combination of athleticism, work rate, and smart distribution has provided the platform for Tipp’s attacking play.

In the forward division, Grace O'Brien has been a standout performer, reliable from placed balls and always a threat in open play. Tipperary will look to Casey Hennessy and Roisin Howard to threaten the Galway defence on Saturday, while Jean Kelly may also feature, having made a telling impact off the bench in the quarter-final, contributing three valuable points.

Galway, meanwhile, comes into the semi-final well-rested after topping their group with 4 wins from 4 over Dublin, Waterford, Kilkenny, and Derry.

Their strong performances saw them advance directly to the semi-finals, alongside Cork. Galway came out on top at this stage last year, winning by a single point, 1-12 to 1-11.

Key players for them again this year include sharp shooter Niamh Mallon, along with the experienced Aoife Donohoe and the excellent Aine Keane.

How Tipperary handle Galway’s big guns will be key if they are to prevail and reach a first senior All-Ireland since 2006. On the other hand, Galway will be gunning to get back to the final. having been beaten in last year’s showdown. 

With a place in the All-Ireland final on the line, Saturday’s clash promises to be a fiercely contested battle between two sides hungry for success.

Tipperary’s form and character will give them plenty of belief as they take on a formidable Galway outfit in what’s shaping up to be a classic semi-final showdown. 

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