Tipp’s Camogie legends of ‘99

The great Tipperary senior camogie team that broke new ground by winning the county’s first All-Ireland title in 1999 will be feted 25-years on as this years jubilee team on All-Ireland Camogie final day this Sunday at Croke Park.

By Shane Brophy

In fact, the team that went onto win a three-in-a-row with victories over Cork in 2000 and Kilkenny in 2001, with all three being honoured together.

This Tipperary team remains special in the hearts and minds of Gaelic Games supporters in the county, not just for winning a first All-Ireland senior title, but going onto become one of the great camogie teams of all time, winning five titles in six years, 2003 & 2004 also, as the late Gerry Slevin entitled his book “The Years of Plenty” to mark a golden era for camogie in the county.

The first title is always the most special when on September 5th, 1999, they got the better of Kilkenny at Croke Park. However, three months previous, an All-Ireland title looked highly unlikely when they suffered a 9-19 to 2-7 defeat to Cork in the National League final. The management team of the late Biddy Phillips, the late Jim Madden, and Timmy Moloney, knew help was needed and acquired the services of All-Ireland winning hurlers Michael Cleary and Colm Bonnar, as well as fitness coach Sean Hennessy, from where they turned things around spectacularly.

In a straight knockout championship, they defeated Clare 1-18 to 1-6 in round 1 at The Ragg, setting up a semi-final with Down at Parnell Park in Dublin where they routed the Ulster side 6-22 to 1-3.

Growing in belief, confidence, fitness, and skill, they headed into Tipp’s eighth senior final (defeated in the previous seven 1949, ’53, ’58, ’61, ’65, ’79 & ’84) facing the ultimate test in the form of Kilkenny who had won twelve of the fifteen finals played in and had the legendary Downey sisters in their side.

A huge crowd of 15,000 were at Croke Park for what was a historic final as it was the first fifteen aside All-Ireland played on a full-sized pitch.

Tipperary showed few nerves and going in at half time trailing 1-5 to 0-7, they were where they wanted to be.

Tipp piled on the pressure in the second half with Deirdre Hughes denied what appeared to be a legitimate point while Eimear McDonnell had a great goal chance saved.

Tipp still trailed when Deirdre Hughes scored a superb point from an acute angle into the Hill 16 end. Hughes then won the free which sub Caitriona Hennessy converted for a 0-12 to 1-8 victory with captain Maedhbh Stokes having the honour of being the first Tipperary person to lift the O’Duffy Cup.

1999 - Tipperary 0-12 Kilkenny 1-8: Jovita Delaney (Cashel), Suzanne Kelly (Toomevara), Una O’Dwyer (Cashel), Claire Madden (Portroe), Maedhbh Stokes (Cashel, Captain), Ciara Gaynor (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Sinead Nealon (Burgess), Emily Hayden (Cashel), Angie McDermott (Knockavilla Kickhams), Noelle Kennedy (Toomevara 0-6), Therese Brophy (Burgess), Helen Kiely (Drom & Inch), Eimear McDonnell (Burgess 0-1), Deirdre Hughes (Toomevara 0-3), Niamh Harkin (Drom & Inch)

Subs: Philly Fogarty (Cashel) for Kiely; Caitriona Hennessy (Drom & Inch 0-2) for Harkin.

Panellists: Louise Ryan (Holycross/Ballycahill), Sheena Howard (Burgess), Maria Harkin (Drom & Inch), Helen Campion (Cashel), Nora Dwan & Grainne Shanahan (Toomevara).

2000 – Tipperary 2-11 Cork 1-9: Jovita Delaney (Captain); Suzanne Kelly, Una O’Dwyer, Claire Madden, Sinead Nealon, Ciara Gaynor, Therese Brophy, Emily Hayden, Angie McDermott, Philly Fogarty (0-1), Noelle Kennedy, Caitriona Hennessy (0-4); Eimear McDonnell (0-2), Deirdre Hughes (2-2), Claire Grogan (Cashel 0-2).

Subs: Grainne Shanahan, Niamh Harkin, Sheena Howard, Louise Ryan, Maedhbh Stokes, Paula Bulfin (Cashel), Joanne Ryan (Drom & Inch), Helen Kiely.

2001 – Tipperary 4-13 Kilkenny 1-6: Jovita Delaney, Paula Bulfin, Una O’Dwyer, Claire Madden; Sinead Nealon, Ciara Gaynor, Therese Brophy; Suzanne Kelly, Philly Fogarty (0-1); Emily Hayden (Captain), Noelle Kennedy (0-5); Joanne Ryan, Eimear McDonnell (1-2); Deirdre Hughes (2-2), Claire Grogan (1-2).

Subs: Grainne Shanahan (0-1), Niamh Harkin, Sheena Howard, Louise Ryan, Niamh Connolly (Templemore), Lorraine Bourke (Templemore), Julie Delaney (Drom & Inch), Trish O’Halloran (Portroe), Siobhan Ryan (Holycross/Ballycahill), Noelette O’Dwyer (Clonoulty/Rossmore), Louise Young (Toomevara), Lena Woods (Toomevara).