Juniors one step from Croke Park return
CAMOGIE: Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Premier Junior Championship Semi-Final Preview
By Geraldine Kinane
TIPPERARY v ARMAGH
Donaghmore-Ashbourne
Saturday 20th July
Throw-in @ 4.00pm (E.T.)
Referee: Martin Molloy (Wicklow)
All roads lead to Ashbourne in Meath this Saturday as the Tipperary junior team go in search of a place in the All-Ireland Premier Junior Final when they take on Armagh.
It’s the second game of an exciting double header with Laois and Cavan going head to head in the first semi-final at 2.00pm.
Tipperary will go in as favourites on Saturday having recently defeated Armagh in their final group stage game 2-12 to 1-4. While the final score showed an eleven point victory at The Ragg, the game was a lot closer for a long stage with Tipperary trailing at half time 1-1 to 0-3.
The first half was a cagey affair with the stop-start nature meaning neither side got into any rhythm and scores were at a minimum. Tipperary were much improved in the second half with the turning point of the game coming on the three-quarter mark when captain Sinead Meagher struck 1-1 in quick succession. Tipp were very impressive in the final quarter hitting 1-3 without reply with Amy Quinlisk snatching a late goal to seal the win.
Armagh will be hoping and expecting a much-improved performance this Saturday. They won’t have the disadvantage of the long journey to Tipperary that they had a few weeks ago. They will also welcome back their goalkeeper and joint captain Ciarrai Devlin between the posts.
While Tipperary’s full back line impressed in the last meeting of the two sides, Armagh’s full-forward Ciara Geoghegan is a serious threat when given the right ball while former All-Ireland winner with Cork Jennifer Curry is a big game player and has the potential to be a match winner.
The Orchard County have suffered heart break the last two years losing to eventual winners Clare in the semi-final in 2023 while in 2022 they were beaten in the final by Antrim. They will relish the opportunity to reverse the result of the group game and get back to Croke Park.
Standing in their way is a Tipperary team improving with every game. Playing in the Division 2B League they went toe to toe with intermediate teams and reached the final before losing to Cork. They overturned this result weeks later beating the Rebelettes in the Munster Intermediate semi-final before claiming silverware with a brilliant win over Kerry in the final.
The winning streak carried through to the junior championship with big wins over Down, Tyrone, and Wicklow before defeating Armagh in their toughest test to date.
Bill Mullaney and his management have settled on a very strong fifteen with the spine of the team particularly impressive.
Ciara Ryan, one of the few survivors of last year’s starting fifteen, has claimed the full back spot while Gortnahoe’s Sophie Pembroke is a great reader of the game at centre back.
Amy Quinlisk and Anna Fahie have formed a great midfield partnership while up front Ciara Brennan and captain Sinead Meagher have been in good scoring form while also providing crucial assists throughout the campaign to date. Jenny Grace is another key player and talented free-taker – the Burgess/Duharra star also brings huge experience to the side.
Both teams will have to be at their very best on Saturday to take victory. All in Tipperary will be hoping it’s the blue and gold who will be celebrating at the final whistle.
The side have brought some great memories already this year and it’s important that the whole county gets behind them this weekend and travel in numbers to cheer them on.