Kennedy hat-trick inspires Duharra past Borris

CAMOGIE: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Championship Group 2 Round 3

Burgess/Duharra 4-10

Borris-Ileigh 1-12

Report: Joe Scully in Kilcolman

Burgess/Duharra made it two wins from two in group 2 of the Tipperary Senior Camogie Championship after a hard fought but deserved seven-point victory over last years beaten semi-finalists Borris-Ileigh on Saturday afternoon.

The home side, who are looking to win a first county championship since 2018 when they completed a seven-in a row, and judging by this performance they will be in the mix come the knockout stage.

They were led excellently by their Tipperary contingent, with the likes of Caoimhe Maher, Jenny Grace and Ciadhra Maher particularly impressive, while corner forward Tara Kennedy also excelled hitting a hat-trick of goals as well as a point all from play.

Borris-Ileigh, who are now one win and one loss from their opening two games, will be disappointed with their performance, and the manner of the concession of the goals, but overall they can have little complaints with the result, and a key aspect was the fact they only won four of their own puck-outs, losing thirteen. Best for Borris were Julieanne Bourke, Aoife Fitzgerald, Danielle Ryan, and Nicole Walsh who once again top scored for her side and was at the heart of everything good they produced.

The away side were first on the scoreboard when Nicole Walsh pointed a free after just 44 seconds, but from the resultant puckout Burgess/Duharra were level when Ciardha Maher pointed after being set-up by her sister Caoimhe.

A minute later and Borris had the ball in the back of the net, from a Nicole Walsh free which she mis-hit from out by the sideline, and the ball somehow managed to find its way to the back of the net.

The Duharra response was swift and Tara Kennedy had the gap back to two points with a great effort from play in the fourth minute. Borris then replied with two points from Aoife Fitzgerald with a fine effort from distance, was followed up by a Danielle Ryan effort.

Burgess/Duharra had the gap back to a point in the eighth minute when Tara Kennedy goaled when her effort from distance found its way to the back of the net although the Borris keeper Kellie Healy will be disappointed not to have kept the sliotar out.

Jenny Grace had the sides level a minute later with a free before Aoife Fitzgerald had Borris back ahead with a great score from play. Tara Kennedy had her and her sides second goal two minutes later after being set-up by Ciardha Maher, which would be a key moment in the game, as Duharra would go on to then score another 1-2 without reply, with first from Danielle Nealon, then Ciardha Maher taking centre stage first with a great point, then goaling after a strong run and emphatic finish to leave the score 3-5 to 1-4 after 26 minutes.

Borris-Ileigh had the final say of the half through an Ava Bevans point after been set up by Nicole Walsh, as the sides went in at the break with the score at 3-5 to 1-5.

The sides traded the first three scores of the second half with two Nicole Walsh efforts either side of a Kaitlin O’Halloran point for Burgess. Walsh and Jenny Grace then exchanged frees before Walsh would hit the next two points, one from play, to leave the score 3-7 to 1-10 after 43 minutes.

Any chance of a Borris-Ileigh comeback was quickly put to bed, when firstly Ciardha Maher pointed after a fine run, then in the 50th minute Tara Kennedy completed her hat-trick after turning her marker and finishing well from a tight angle.

Walsh and Grace would again exchange frees, before Danielle Ryan pointed from play with a fine effort to leave six in it with two minutes of normal time to go.

The away side pushed for a goal but were held at bay by a resilient Burgess/Duharra defensive effort, and the final say of the game went to Tipperary senior star Caoimhe Maher in the 62nd minute after a fine individual run and finish as Burgess ran out seven-point victors.

Player of the Match: Ciardha Maher (Burgess/Duharra).

Burgess/Duharra: Ciara Holohan (6); Iris Grace (7), Aisling Cremin (7), Ella Slattery (6); Katie Grace (7), Caoimhe Maher (0-1, 8), Malwina Dziewiatka (6); Ciara McKeogh (7), Jenny Grace (0-3f, 8), Caoilfhionn Maher (6), Kaitlin O’Halloran (0-1, 7), Roisin Duffy (6); Tara Kennedy (3-1, 9), Ciardha Maher (1-3, 9), Danielle Nealon (0-1, 7).

Borris-Ileigh: Kellie Healy (6); Sinead O’Meara (7), Niamh McGrath (6), Eve Maher (6); Katie Fitzgerald (6), Julieanne Bourke (7), Avril Ryan (7); Emma Kelly (6), Aoife Ryan (7); Aoife Fitzgerald (0-2, 8), Nicole Walsh (1-7, 1-5f, 8), Ava Bevans (0-1, 7); Danielle Ryan (0-2, 8), Emma Maher (6), Danielle Nealon (0-1, 6).

Subs: Therese Groome (7) for Kelly (32 inj); Jane Delaney (6) for Eve Maher (51); Grace Stapleton (6) for Bevans (53).

Referee: Tom McGlinchey (Newport/Ballinahinch).