Tipperary junior panel who defeated Armagh in the All-Ireland semi-final. Back row: Ciara Ryan, Laura Leenane, Lorna Ryan, Hazel Brennan, Maria Connolly, Anna Fahie, Saoirse McGrath, Dani Ryan, Laura Shinners, Grace Moloney, Eimear Fogarty, Gemma Fox, Eva O’Dwyer, Emma Kelly, Emma O’Sullivan, Jenny Grace, Emma O’Halloran, Orla O’Brien, Aoife O’Brien. Front row: Caroline Shanahan, Amy Callanan, Ciara Brennan, Emma Flanagan, Shona McBride, Tara Hoare, Eimear Carey, Miriam Murphy, Amy Quinlisk, Jill Anne Quirke, Lily Fahie, Sophie Pembroke, Sinead Meagher (captain), Molly Gilmartin. PHOTO: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Tipp Juniors aim for redemption in All-Ireland final

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CAMOGIE: Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Premier Junior Championship Final Preview

By Joe Scully

TIPPERARY v LAOIS

Croke Park

Sunday, 11th August

Throw-in @ 1.05pm

Referee: Karol Collins (Galway)

Camogie’s biggest day is almost upon us, when on Sunday afternoon, a years’ worth of hard-work and sweat and tears comes to a head, when six teams and five counties take to the stage on All-Ireland final day, as the race for the O’Duffy Cup (Senior), Jack McGrath Cup (Intermediate) and for the Kay Mills Cup (Junior) reaches its conclusion.

The Premier Junior final sees neighbours Tipperary and Laois get the action underway at 1:05pm, followed by the intermediate decider between Cork and Kilkenny at 3.00pm, with the showpiece senior showdown between Cork and Galway at 5.15pm.

Both Tipperary and Laois come into the game with 100% records in the championship so far and winning most of their games by comfortable winning margins, apart from their respective victories in the semi-final stages. Tipperary came through their semi-final thanks to a one-point victory over Armagh, while the O’Moore county beat Cavan by a six-point margin. This is the second year in a row Tipperary will contest the All-Ireland final after a heart-breaking four-point defeat in last year’s decider to Clare. While it might just be one year since that defeat but there has been a lot of changes to the Tipp squad and the management team, as only two players who started last year’s final, started the semi-final victory over Armagh, namely Ciara Ryan and Ciara Brennan.

Sundays game promises to be a very exciting close game, with the Premier ladies probably starting as favourites, as they have six players who were playing at senior level last year, but Laois will be no pushover and will be looking to the likes of Susie Delaney, Aimee Collier, Leah Daly, Liadan Fennell and Clodagh Tynan, who was player of the match in their semi-final victory over Cavan, to lead them to only what would be a second All-Ireland victory at this level. Laois will also be hoping that Grainne Brennan will be fit enough to play a part after been forced off in the Cavan game with a nasty shoulder injury.

If Tipperary are to get over the line, they will need big games from the likes of Anna Fahie and Ciara Brennan, the latter who will be looking to make up for last year’s final where she was sent off, albeit rather harshly.

Jill-Anne Quirke, Sophie Pembroke, captain Sinead Meagher and Ciara Ryan are also Tipp’s leading players.

Another player who could have a massive say on the outcome might be Laura Shinners, who has been mainly used a sub as she has been carrying a knock, which means she can only play thirty to forty minutes, but every time the Kilruane MacDonagh’s native is introduced to games she makes a significant contribution and plays a key role in her side coming out victorious.

Both sides come into the game full of confidence, both teams lost their respective league finals, with Tipperary since then going onto win the Munster Intermediate Championship, and they will be hoping that experience will stand to them in the heat of battle on Sunday, as they look to end what has been a successful year for Tipperary camogie overall with a third All-Ireland Junior championship and a first since 2001.

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