COONEY FIGHTS HER CORNER O’Connor on the double as Cork edge past Tipp

Rebelletes on top while Galway and Kilkenny also carve out victories

Abrace of goals from Amy O’Connor backed up by a power-packed performance from Chloe Sigerson helped Cork keep Tipperary at bay in their opening Littlewoods Camogie League Division 1 Group 2 tie at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday.

Meanwhile, All-Ireland champions Kilkenny just about did enough to overcome a Dublin side under new manager Adrian O’Sullivan in Group 3 in Callan. The top flight’s west coast derby saw Clare give league title holders Galway a huge fright before losing out in Athenry.

Tipp had booked a place in the league decider last year before the competition fell foul of Covid-19 and after following that up by reaching the All-Ireland semi-final once again, Bill Mullaney’s crew pushed their Leeside hosts all the way.

Paudie Murray named a strong side but Tipperary possessed a significant level of experience too and started well with Cáit Devane splitting the posts a couple of times before O’Connor shot to the net in the seventh minute.

The St Vincent’s star hooked Tipp goalie Áine Slattery and after Linda Collins gathered possession, she was in position to take the pass and finish to the unguarded net. Three points followed but Tipp steadied the ship and trailed by just two at the water break.

Disaster struck All-Star netminder Slattery a second time just before the interval when she was unable to control a tame shot by Fiona Keating that dipped late, deflecting off the Borrisokane player’s hurley for a goal to make it 2-7 to 0-6 at half-time.

It was closely contested after the resumption but the visitors were exposed by Hannah Looney, whose powerful run after taking a pass from Laura Treacy around midfield opened for O’Connor, who drove to the net just before the final water break.

Tipp finished strongly as Devane brought her tally to ten points. Cork had reason to thank goalie, Amy Lee for her alertness in coming off her line to save a ground shot at goal from Grace O’Toole in injury time before adding a couple of late points to leave it 3-14 to 0-16.

Kilkenny will have been pleased to get their year off to a winning start but they were made to work very hard by a resolute Dublin unit in a dour affair at John Locke Park.

The home side laid the foundation for their success in the opening seven minutes, at the end of which they led by 1-2 to 0-0 after points from Denise Gaule and Michaela Kennelly as well as a goal by Aoife Doyle, after Faye McCarthy was deceived by the bouncing sliotar.

That latter score came after the Dubs threatened a major at the other end and they matched their vaunted opponents for the remainder of the game.

Aisling Maher and Jody Couch raised white flags to make it 1-5 to 0-3 at the interval and scores were at even more of a premium after the resumption. Gaule and Maher slotted placed balls for their sides, while McCarthy was forced into a smart stop by Grace Walsh in the closing minutes.

It was Dublin that needed the green flag but it wasn’t forthcoming and so the women in stripes prevailed by 1-8 to 0-6.

Clare offered stern resistance to Galway too, the Tribeswomen leaning on their goal threat to see out a first half in which they were clearly second best. However, Galway took the spoils by 3-11 to 0-15 against last year’s improving All-Ireland quarter-finalists.

The opening major arrived after just two minutes and it was a classy finish by Siobhán McGrath, who won possession on the endline before making her way goalwards and batting the sliotar to the net from a tight angle.

Clare were undeterred, however, and with Zi Yan Spillane prominent, accelerated into a four-point lead with Chloe Morey landing a booming free from distance. When Máire McGrath and Áine O’Loughlin also found the target, it was 0-8 to 1-1.

Once more, it was Siobhán McGrath that came up with the vital riposte, grabbing her second goal just before the water break. Ailish O’Reilly raised another green flag in the dying stages of the first half. However, Eimear Kelly slotted her fourth point, edging Clare ahead by just one, 0-12 to 3-2 at the change of ends, when they should have had much more in hand.

Galway were much improved after the restart, no doubt spurred on by stern words from Cathal Murray. Aoife Donohue and McGrath were scoring freely while Ger O’Connell’s charges could only supplement their first-half contribution by three and that left them beaten by 3-11 to 0-15.

In Division 2, the result of the day was undoubtedly Kerry’s 0-14 to 0-8 defeat of Galway, and there were wins too for Antrim, Cork, Wexford, Westmeath and Meath.

Armagh, Limerick and Carlow claimed the points in Division 3 while Tyrone, Cavan, Kildare and Roscommon were victorious in Division 4.