Carton’s class decisive as Tipp make losing start

An injury-depleted Tipperary side suffered a three-point defeat to Waterford in the opening round of the National Camogie League Division 1A

CAMOGIE: Very National League Division 1 Round 1

Tipperary 0-10

Waterford 1-10

Report: Joe Scully in Kilcommon

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Niamh Rockett (Waterford).

SCORERS – Tipperary: Roisin Howard 0-4; Eimear Heffernan, Eimear McGrath (2 frees) 0-3 each.

Waterford: Beth Carton 1-5 (0-5 frees); Niamh Rockett 0-3; Lorraine Bray, Roisin Howard 0-1 each.

In what was a repeat of last years All Ireland semi-final, both teams served up a highly entertaining clash in very difficult conditions, and just like that encounter it was the Deise who came through victorious, the difference being an excellent Beth Carton goal in the thirteenth minute, after the 2023 Camogie Player of the Year picked the ball up around halfway and went on a superb solo run and finished emphatically past Nicole Walsh in the Tipperary goal.

Tipperary will be bitterly disappointed with the result as they left themselves with just a little bit too much to do to overturn a five-point deficit with fifteen minutes left, and despite holding their opponents scoreless for the final eighteen minutes of normal time, the home side would come up just short.

One worrying aspect for Tipp was when the Waterford midfield of Beth Carton and Lorraine Bray ran at the heart of the defence and caused them all sorts of problems as the home side struggled to cope with direct running all game.

There was some great camogie played by both sides throughout with some fine scores hit also. Tipp will feel slightly aggrieved at the free count as the away side were awarded 21 frees to just 11 to the home side, and some of them seemed on the soft side and will feel like a number of decisions went against them throughout the game.

One bright aspect for Tipp was their accuracy in their shooting with them scoring from 10 out of their 13 shots on goal, a 77% success rate, and if they can keep that kind of rate up going forward, while creating more chances they will win a lot more than they lose.

The visitors were first off the mark through a Niamh Rockett effort from play in just the second minute. The home side would reply with a couple of Eimear Heffernan points from play to lead in the fifth minute. Beth Carton, with a free, and Roisin Howard would trade points to leave the Premier County 0-3 to 0-2 up after ten minutes.

The Deise were back ahead three minutes later when Carton goaled, but the home side will feel slightly aggrieved, as it came from a Waterford free, which a few seconds before Tipp should have been awarded a free for a foul on Roisin Howard.

Eimear McGrath replied for the Premier County two minutes later, after a quality ball played in by skipper Caoimhe Maher. Rockett had the gap back to two points with a point from play. Tipp would be level in the 25th minute through two points first from a McGrath free, then an effort from play from Eimear Heffernan.

Waterford would finish the half stronger though with two points, the first from a Carton free, then a fine effort from Lorraine Bray after great link-up play with Carton to leave Waterford ahead at the break, 1-5 to 0-6.

Waterford were quickest out of the traps in the second half and had the lead out to four points in just the second minute through a Beth Carton free and Niamh Rockett from play, although it was a great goal chance.

McGrath and Carton would trade frees to leave it at 1-8 to 0-7 after 35 minutes. Roisin Howard had the gap back down to three with a fantastic point from all of 65 metres, before Roisin Kirwan, had the gap back out to four with an excellent effort from a very acute angle.

Then Beth Carton added another with a free from near halfway in the 42nd minute a score which would be her sides last of the game.

McGrath and Howard had the gap back down to just three points by the 51st minute, but that would be the last score of the game, even though sub-Kate Ralph had a great goal chance in the 55th minute, but her shot lacked any real conviction and was easily saved by Brianna O’Regan in the Waterford goal.

The home side pushed late on for a leveller but were held at bay by a very resilient Waterford side who picked up their opening two points of the campaign.

Next up for Tipperary is a home tie against Galway on Saturday as they will look to get their season up and running.

Best for Tipperary on the day were Caoimhe Maher, Roisin Howard and Eimear McGrath, while for the Deise Beth Carton, Lorraine Bray and Niamh Rockett shone.

TEAMS – Tipperary: Nicole Walsh (Borris-Ileigh 6), Ellen Cunneen (Silvermines 6), Sarah Madden (Silvermines 7), Eimear Loughman (Clonoulty/Rossmore 6), Karin Blair (Cashel King Cormacs 7), Clodagh Quirke (Cashel King Cormacs 7), Ciardha Maher (Burgess/Duharra 6); Tess Ryan (Borris-Ileigh 6), Caoimhe McCarthy (Knockavilla -D Kickhams 6), Roisin Howard (Cahir 9), Caoimhe Maher (Burgess/Duharra, Capt 8), Clodagh McIntyre (Lorrha 7); Casey Hennessy (Clonoulty/Rossmore 6), Eimear McGrath (Drom & Inch 8), Eimear Heffernan (Knockavilla-D Kickhams 8).

Subs: Niamh Costigan (Cahir 6) for Ciardha Maher (HT); Kate Ralph (Moycarkey/Borris 7) for Hennessy (37), Celine Guinan (Shannon Rovers 6) for McIntyre (50).

Waterford: Brianna O’Regan (6); Iona Hefferan (7), Kate Lynch (7), Keely Corbett Barry (6), Clodagh Carroll (7), Orla Hickey (7), Mairead O’Brien (8), Beth Carton (8), Lorraine Bray (8), Niamh Rockett (9), Rachel Walsh (6), Bevin Bowdre (6), Aine Power (7), Roisin Kirwan (7), Tara Power (6).

Subs: Laoise Forrest (6) for Kirwan (53); Sarah Lacey (6) for A Power (53); Abby Flynn (NR) for M O’Brien (60).

Referee: Liz Dempsey (Kilkenny).