Terrific Tipperary stage late fightback to claim invaluable point away to Cork

Centra National Camogie League - Division 1A - Round 4

Cork 2-8

Tipperary 1-11

By Therese O’Callaghan

Tipperary achieved a well-deserved draw against Cork in the Centra National Camogie League Division 1A in Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday. 

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It was a hard-earned result that will give them plenty of encouragement for next weekend’s round 5 game at home to table toppers Waterford, the Déise have already qualified for the final with a match to play.

While qualification for the showdown is an outside chance for Tipperary who sit fourth in the table, coming off losses in their last two games, a third defeat would have been a big blow.

Instead, they must get immense credit for overturning an eight-point half-time deficit to earn a share of the spoils against the defending league champions. 

In the process, they kept the Rebels scoreless from play in a battling second 30 minutes. When it looked like Cork might edge it at the death and the clock entering the fourth minute of the additional three minutes that was signalled, Clodagh McIntyre rounded off their comeback with a fantastic equalising score in the dying seconds. 

As the road opened up in front of the attacker, kudos also to captain Caoimhe McCarthy who set up the vital white flag from out the field. 

“We didn’t feel like it was an eight-point margin at half-time, even though it was. Basics kind of let us down, our shooting,” new Tipperary manager James Heffernan reflected.

“I thought our fight was really good in the second half and the impact from our bench as well.

“We have Waterford at home next week, they are likely to be in the league final.

“The girls responded well today so they will be in a good form going home.”

Behind by eight points after Cork played with a wind-assisted first half, Tipperary put themselves in contention when towering corner-forward Caoimhe Stakelum collected and broke through for a 35th minute goal after referee Donnacha O’Callaghan moved a free forward for dissent.

In a dominant third quarter, Eimear McGrath posted three placed balls while ‘keeper Laura Leenane ably dealt with a Saoirse McCarthy effort to reduce the gap to two, 2-6 to 1-7.

Cork’s first score of the new half did not arrive until the 46th minute from a Sorcha McCartan free, the advantage now one clear goal. 

The next two points went Tipperary’s way with seven minutes of regulation remaining.

A McCartan free after a foul on Orlaith Cahalane meant Tipperary trailed by two.

McIntyre had a sniff at goal, but Cork averted the danger, and in a dramatic finish, first McGrath pointed, and then McIntyre gave her side a fully merited share of the spoils.

Goals from Emma Murphy and Orlaith Cahalane in the 11th and 14th minutes helped Cork into a 2-6 to 0-4 interval lead.

Scorers: Tipperary: Caoimhe Stakelum 1-2, Eimear McGrath (0-5, 0-2f, 0-1 45), Aoife Dwyer 0-2, Roisin Howard, Clodagh McIntyre 0-1 each.

Cork: Orlaith Cahalane 1-2, Sorcha McCartan 0-4f, E Murphy 1-0, L Hayes 0-1f, H Ryan 0-1.

Tipperary: Laura Leenane (Shannon Rovers); Isobel O’Donnell (Brian Borus), Mairéad Eviston (Drom & Inch), Eimear Loughman (Clonoulty Rossmore); Mary Burke (Drom & Inch), Caoimhe McCarthy (Knockavilla Kickhams), Celine Guinan (Shannon Rovers); Karen Kennedy (Thurles Sarsfields), Caoimhe Maher (Burgess Duharra); Aoife Dwyer (Thurles Sarsfields), Eimear McGrath (Drom & Inch), Clodagh McIntyre (Lorrha Dorrha); Caoimhe Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields), Róisín Howard (Cahir), Niamh Treacy (Drom & Inch).

Subs used: Emma Carey (Thurles Sarsfields) for Burke (44); Eimear Heffernan (Knockavilla Kickhams) for C Maher (44); Jean Kelly (Éire Óg Annacarty) for A Dwyer (56); Niamh Cunneen (Silvermines) for N Treacy (61).

Cork: Amy Lee; Meabh Murphy, Libby Coppinger, Meabh Cahalane; Rachel Harty, Laura Hayes, Ava Fitzgerald; Millie Condon, Izzy O’Regan; Emma Murphy, Saoirse McCarthy, Ava McAuliffe; Hayley Ryan, Orlaith Cahalane, Sorcha McCartan.

Subs used: Orlaith Cremin for H Ryan (blood sub, 7-12), Orlaith Cremin for H Ryan (44); Niamh McNabola for E Murphy (44); Isobel Sheehan for A McAuliffe (54).

Referee: Donnacha O’Callaghan (Limerick)

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