Late Galway surge hands Tipp more heartbreak
Sport can be a cruel mistress at times as the Tipperary senior camogie side can attest to as their dreams of All-Ireland glory were cruelly dashed once more after another heart-breaking semi-final defeat, as two injury time points from Galway, gave them a one-point victory on Saturday afternoon.
CAMOGIE: Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Championship Semi-Final
Galway 1-12
Tipperary 1-11
Report: Joe Scully in UMPC Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
Photos: Bridget Delaney
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Niamh Mallon (Galway).
SCORERS – Galway: Carrie Dolan 0-5 frees; Niamh Mallon 1-2; Niamh Kilkenny 0-2; Aoife Donohoe, Niamh McPeake, Ailish O’Reilly 0-1.
Tipperary: Eimear McGrath 1-6 (0-4 frees); Clodagh McIntyre 0-2; Casey Hennessy, Clodagh Quirke, Cait Devane 0-1 each.
It what was a low scoring, but highly entertaining game, which was back and forth all through, where both sides played with pure heart and commitment, and deserve immense credit for the effort put in over the hour.
But unfortunately for the Premier, it was another devastating semi-final defeat, just like twelve months ago at the hands of Waterford, and the hurt was plain to see on the faces of the players when the full-time whistle went.
Tipp, who led by a point as the game entered what would be four minutes of added time, were unable to hold on as firstly an Aoife Donohue effort from pay levelled the score, before a Carrie Dolan free in the 64th minute proved to be the winner.
Tipperary would have one more chance to find an equaliser but Eimear McGrath’s sideline-cut for two points fell agonizingly short, and the Galway defence were able to clear and secure their place in the final.
It was a tough defeat for Tipperary who after a slow start where they conceded the first three points, didn’t get on the score sheet until the twelfth minute through a well-worked Eimear McGrath goal, which really sparked them into life, and from that moment on they played some great camogie at times, but they will look back at the game at some missed opportunities along the way which cost them dearly in the end.
Galway were fastest out of the traps and raced into a three-point lead inside six minutes, firstly through Niamh Kilkenny, after been set up by Niamh Mallon who was impressive, and the Tipp defence was unable to cope with her throughout.
Carrie Dolan followed this up with two frees to leave her side three up. A minute later, Eimear McGrath was nearly in for a goal, but her shot was well blocked by the Galway defence. However, she would goal four minutes later with a well-taken finish, following great work originally from Karen Kennedy who turned over the ball following an excellent piece of defending, and the ball eventually found its way to McGrath via some great work from Karin Blair and Clodagh McIntyre.
This goal would spark the league champions into life, and they would then hit the next three points through Casey Hennessy, McIntyre, and an Eimear McGrath 45.
Galway would hit back with two-in-a-row to leave through Ailish O’Reilly and a Carrie Dolan free. The Munster outfit would then hit another three-in-a-row, through Clodagh Quirke with a superb effort from 50 metres, which was followed up by an Eimear McGrath double first from play then a placed ball.
Galway would hit the final two scores of the half from Niamh Mallon, both excellent individual scores to leave the score at the break 1-6 to 0-7 in favour of Tipperary.
Galway once again came flying out of the traps at the start of the second-half and were ahead in just the second minute when Mallon goaled with a fine finish after a great build-up involving Niamh’s Hanniffy and Kilkenny.
Clodagh McIntyre would have Tipp level two minutes later after being set up by Karin Blair. Niamh McPeake and Niamh Kilkenny responded for the Connacht outfit to put them two ahead.
But Tipp, as they did all game, responded brilliantly, and hit the next three scores to retake the lead once again, with a Cait Devane effort sandwiched in between two more McGrath frees, to leave Tipp a point up with eleven minutes left to play.
The game hit a bit of a lull in terms of scoring but not in intensity and it would be the 56th minute before the next score when Eimear McGrath struck again to leave her side two points up with four minutes to play and in a strong position.
But Galway showed tremendous fighting spirit and shoed why they have been one of the top teams in the country over the last number of years and would and had the gap back to a point through a Dolan free in the 58th minute, before Aoife Donohoe levelled in the 62nd and as both sides pushed for a winner, Galway were awarded a free in the 63rd minute and Dolan showed nerves of steel to send the ball over the bar and send her side into the All-Ireland final, and break Tipperary hearts.
TEAMS – Galway: Sarah Healy (6); Rachael Hanniffy (9), Roisin Black (7), Dervla Higgins (6); Annmarie Starr (6), Aine Keane (7), Ciara Hickey (6); Niamh Hanniffy (8), Niamh Kilkenny (8); Aoife Donohoe (7), Niamh McPeake (6), Olwen Rabbitte (6); Carrie Dolan (8), Niamh Mallon (9), Ailish O’Reilly (7).
Subs: Orlaith McGrath for Mallon (blood 28-30); Niamh Niland (6) for Rabbitte (49); Ally Hesnan (6) for Hanniffy (51); Orlaith McGrath (NR) for Starr (59).
Tipperary: Nicole Walsh (Borris-Ileigh 6); Julieanne Bourke (Borris-Ileigh 6), Mairead Eviston (Drom & Inch 7), Eimear Loughman (Clonoulty/Rossmore 8); Caoimhe McCarthy (Knockavilla-D Kickhams 6), Karen Kennedy (Thurles Sarsfields 7), Clodagh Quirke (Clonoulty/Rossmore 7); Casey Hennessy (Clonoulty/Rossmore 7), Karin Blair (Cashel King Cormacs 7); Roisin Howard (Cahir 7), Caoimhe Maher (Burgess/Duharra 7), Clodagh McIntyre (Lorrha 8); Eimear Heffernan (Knockavilla-D Kickhams 6), Eimear McGrath (Drom & Inch 8), Grace O’Brien (Nenagh Eire Og 7).
Subs: Teresa Ryan (Borris-Ileigh 6) for Hennessy (HT); Aoife McGrath (Drom & Inch 7) for Bourke (39), Cait Devane (Clonoulty/Rossmore 7) for Heffernan (41); Mary Bourke (Drom & Inch 6) for Howard (49); Caoimhe Perdue (Cashel King Cormacs 6) for O’Brien (55).
Referee: Liz Dempsey (Kilkenny).