Tipperary see off neighbours and look to decider
TIPPERARY are on the brink of a first appearance in a senior national camogie decider since 2009, with Galway and Cork also in contention as Division 1A of the Very Camogie League enters its final round of group games next week.
Denis Kelly’s squad overcame neighbours Kilkenny by 2-12 to 1-6 at Nowlan Park yesterday and are now heavy favourites to appear in a national showpiece for the first time since losing the League final to Wexford 15 years ago.
The Premiers are actually in second on the table after the penultimate round but their last game is against a youthful Clare squad and barring the Banner recording a big win and Kilkenny are heavily beaten by Waterford, they are headed for Division 1B.
The Déise will be hoping Clare pull off a shock as last year’s AllIreland finalists, who went into this phase on top of the table on score difference, conceded points in injury time to fall to a 0-13 to 012 defeat to Galway in Loughrea, leaving their aspirations hanging by a thread.
Galway’s ambitions of a League three-in-a-row are alive thanks to that dramatic conclusion and a draw at home next week against Cork will be enough to get them in the decider on score difference.
Cork got back on track with a 115 to 1-6 triumph over Clare at Páirc Uí Rinn.
Galway’s injury-time points from Carrie Dolan and Aisling O’Reilly foiled a second-half comeback by Waterford. The hosts saw a sixpoint half-time advantage evaporate after the restart, as the Suirsiders, promoted to the top tier as Division 1B winners, ran riot in the latter period.
When Waterford goalkeeper, Brianna O’Regan lofted over her second pointed free in five minutes, either side of a score from play by Beth Carton that was the 2023 player of the year’s eighth of the day, Jerry Wallace’s side looked booked for a famous success as they hit the front in the third minute of injury time.
But there was plenty more action remaining, as Dolan equalised from a free before O’Reilly slotted the winner from play.
Niamh Niland, Dervla Higgins and Dolan raised white flags. Dolan, like Carton, would tot up eight points and six of those came in the opening period at the end of which, Galway led 10-4.
Carton, Lorraine Bray and Niamh Curran quickly ate into the deficit and after Dolan made it a four-point game, Waterford really cut loose with the next five points.
Galway showed the character of champions to snatch the spoils.
Tipperary overcame Kilkenny. They were able to remain composed after conceding a seventhminute goal to Katie Power.
Eimear McGrath had slotted three points, Kennedy goaled right on the half-hour to give Tipp a 1-4 to 1-2 half-time lead.
They cut loose after the restart. McGrath’s 46th minute goal removed all doubt.
Cork improved in the second half to eventually pull away from Clare, leading at the end of a scrappy first half by just 6-1.
When Katrina Mackey set up Hannah Looney for a goal early in the second half, the Leesiders were able to throw the shackles off and with Saoirse McCarthy and Sorcha McCartan keeping the scoreboard ticking over.
Áine O’Loughlin kept up her good form throughout the campaign with a 41st minute goal but Cork were always comfortable.
In Division 1B, Antrim came shocked Limerick by 3-10 to 2-5 at Ballycastle; Wexford cruised to a 4-15 to 0-3 success over Kerry.
In the Division 2B final, Cork were 0-13 to 0-10 winners over Tipperary, while Dublin saw off Limerick by 1-10 to 1-13 in the 3B decider.