Tipp Senior Camogie team can look to Armagh for belief
IN ALL FAIRNESS
Did someone within Tipperary senior camogie step on a black cat because that is the only reason to understand the torment they are going through after suffered more All-Ireland semi-final heartbreak on Saturday.
For the sixth time in seven years, Tipperary have fallen short at the penultimate stage.
The first three semi-final losses in 2018 (Cork), 2019 (Kilkenny) and 2020 (Galway) were acceptable to a certain extent as Tipp were re-building from a low base, but the last three are of the variety of what might have been.
In 2022, a goalkeeping error late on saw Tipp come unstuck against Galway. Last year, Tipp gave up a winning position to an inspired Waterford side but last Saturday might be the worst of the lot as Tipp were in front going into five minutes of added time, but when the final whistle sounded, they were on the wrong side of the scoreline against Galway.
There was a remarkable symmetry to the National League final clash between the sides last April when Carrie Dolan missed a free with the last puck of the game to hand Tipperary the win. Three months on, she stood over a free in a similar position, and this time she nailed it for what proved to be the winning score.
Tipp did have one more chance to snatch it as Eimear McGrath stood over a sideline-cut, where in camogie two points are awarded for a successful conversion, but unfortunately for full-forward, her attempt fell just short and with it went the dream of a first All-Ireland final appearance since 2006.
While it doesn’t feel like it at the moment, Tipp are getting closer, a first national league title since 2004 is testament to that. Incredibly, eight players who were part of the first All-Ireland semi-final loss six years ago featured at some point last Saturday so the resilience is there to stay coming back and that is all they can do. For some reassurance, they only have to look at what Armagh did last Sunday in winning just a second All-Ireland senior football title.
The seniors falling short denies us what could have been a special occasion for Tipperary Camogie on All-Ireland Final day on Sunday week with the juniors already qualified for the final against Laois, while the history-making first All-Ireland senior winners of 1999 are being honoured at this year’s jubilee team.
However, despite the disappointment for the seniors, it has been a hugely positive year for Tipperary camogie, and hopefully will be topped off by the juniors to add to the Munster Intermediate title won earlier this year and return to the All-Ireland Intermediate grade proper next year which they would feel is the minimum level they should be at.
The minor All-Ireland win is probably the most important success of the year as it shows the work is being done at underage level and there are some players there who can make an immediate impact at senior level, and such are the margins, it will only take something small to get Tipp over the line next year.
One of those could be relocating Karen Kennedy to a role further up the field. She is an outstanding centre-back, but she could offer more to Tipp in an attacking sense. Tipp aren’t short of players capable of playing in the half-back line to an impactful level, whereas Tipp really could do with a game-breaker in attack. Kennedy showed it in the National League final when it was her goal which proved to be the key score in the game.
I am sure it is one of many things manager Denis Kelly and his selectors will consider in the coming weeks and months, and one of the most important decisions is to ensure continuity because a change in management might do more harm than good.
The doubts were there in Armagh last year as to whether Kieran McGeeney was the man to take them on. Look how what worked out.