Ruthless Tipp minors off to flying start

CAMOGIE: Tesco All-Ireland Minor ‘A’ Championship Round 1

Limerick 0-3

Tipperary 1-15

Report: Thomas Conway in Kilmallock

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Grace Moloney (Tipperary)

SCORERS - Limerick: Laura Crowley 0-2 (1 free), Ciara Riordan 0-1.

Tipperary: Lisa O'Connor 0-5 frees; Anna Fahie, Grace Moloney 0-4 each; Aoife Dwyer 1-1; Cora Heffernan 0-1.

What happens in February rarely defines the course of a season, but in this instance for Tipperary, it will determine whether or not 2022 will offer a road to success.

The end destination of that road is the 27th of March, the date on which the All-Ireland Minor final is set to take place, and if Tipp continue to produce performances like they did last Sunday in Kilmallock, they could well arrive at that place and end up celebrating the journey.

That said, Michael Ferncombe’s side will almost certainly face more difficult opposition. They rose to Limerick’s meagre challenge with tremendous energy and hunger but maintaining that work-ethic will become increasingly difficult as February unfolds, and March begins.

Still, Tipp were worth every score of their fifteen-point victory here. For a few minutes at least, it appeared as if they might have to earn it, with Limerick showing immediate vigour and attempting to match the ferocious determination of the visiting side.

Crucially, Tipp have the ability to translate that determination into scores, and they did so after just eleven seconds, Kate Ferncombe bounding straight from the throw-in and slipping a neat handpass to Grace Moloney, who unleashed a running effort which dipped just over the crossbar.

It was a scrappy opening period, and things only became scrappier as the surface conditions deteriorated. While initially there was a sense that the heavy ground might suit Limerick, it quickly became apparent that Tipp were firmly in command and unprepared to relinquish any control whatsoever. Laura Crowley restored parity with a low angled strike from the wing, but that was the extent of Limerick’s first-half damage.

With Ferncombe and O’Brien setting the tone in midfield, Tipp consumed their opponents from the halfway line upwards, concentrating the ball in the danger zone and grinding out several frees, carefully despatched each time by Lisa O’Connor, whose display from placed-balls was praiseworthy given the adverse and ever-changing conditions. She was active from play as well, scraping the ball into hand and teeing up Anna Fahie for Tipp’s second point, before featuring in several more of Tipp’s attacking moves, particularly in the early stages.

Selecting a marquee forward from this Tipp attack seems like a futile exercise, because in reality, both lines work brilliantly as a unit - moving in synch, working in synch, shooting only at the most opportune moment when in the most opportune location. To be fair to Limerick, they persevered at the back, but the driving determination of the Tipp forwards - which persisted right until the final whistle - was simply too much.

Aoife Dwyer slotted Tipp’s seventh point in the 21st minute, a precursor to a brilliant goal midway through the second-half, but either side of the interval, it was the forward duo of Grace Moloney and Anna Fahie which shone brightest. Both registered four from play, the best of which was a Fahie gem from the wing in the 23rd minute - duly set up by Moloney of course.

Tipp had one slight scare on the cusp of half-time, keeper Kacey Meehan forced to rescue the ball dramatically from the goal-line, but even if the sliotar had rolled over the chalk, there was a distinct sense that Tipp would not have been in excess danger.

Dwyer’s riveting goal was the highlight of the second, her shot a slick impromptu strike past Leah Quinlan, which shot like a bullet past the Limerick net-minder. At this stage O’Connor was powering over the frees, with Moloney contributing to her own personal tally and Abbie Lenihan displaying shrewd game-management from centre-back.

The impact of Tipp’s subs was notable, probably enabling them to maintain the relentless pace at which they play, and while Limerick continued to strive hard, it paid little dividend - save a Crowley free and a late O’Riordan point from play.

It has been almost six years since Tipperary last landed an All-Ireland Minor title, their last triumph a 2016 replay victory over Galway. That particular side contained a host of names which now feature regularly at senior level, including Orla O’Dwyer, Karen Kennedy, and Grace O’Brien. Whether the 2022 minors can emulate their 2016 predecessors remains to be seen, but they took their first step last Sunday.

Next up is Wexford at The Ragg on Sunday 13th February at 2.00pm.

TEAMS – Limerick: Leah Quinlan (7), Sophie McDonagh (6), Muireann Leahy (6), Róisín Corbett (6), Ciara Neenan (6), Ellie Woulfe (7), Elaine Frawley (7), Claire Power (6), Ella Meehan (6), Laura Frawley (7), Kate Feasy (6), Ciara Riordan (7), Lauran Southern (6), Éle Madigan (6), Katie Dore (6).

Subs: Aimee O'Connor (7) for Madigan (HT); Ella Ryan (7) for Neenan (HT); Amy Burke (7) for Dore (40); Orla Ryan (7) for Meehan (51); Amy Mullins (NR) for L Frawley (57 inj).

Tipperary: Kacey Meehan (Brian Borus 8), Lily Fahie (Cashel King Cormacs 7), Niamh Franks (Shannon Rovers 7), Shauna Heffernan (Eire Og Annacarty 7), Lorna Ryan (Clonoulty/Rossmore 7), Abbie Lenihan (Newport/Ballinahinch 8), Emma Horgan (Boherlahan-Dualla 7), Kate Ferncombe (Clonoulty/Rossmore 8), Orla O’Brien (Eire Og Annacarty 7), Aoife Dwyer (Thurles Sarsfields 8), Grace Moloney (Cashel King Cormacs 8), Kate Ralph (Moycarkey/Borris 7), Cora Heffernan (Eire Og Annacarty 7), Lisa O’Connor (Boherlahan-Dualla 8), Anna Fahie (Cashel King Cormacs 8).

Subs: Niamh Costigan (Cahir 7) for Ralph (HT); Eimear Fogarty (Shannon Rovers NR) for L Fahie (58); Aoife Bourke (Clonoulty/Rossmore NR) for Horgan (60+1).

Referee: Barry Nea (Westmeath).