Tipp begin defence of Minor titles

CAMOGIE: Munster Minor Championship Semi-Final Preview

By Joe Scully

LIMERICK v TIPPERARY

kilteely-Dromkeen

Sunday, 26th February

Throw-in @ 1.30pm

2024 will go down as a very successful year in the realms of Tipperary camogie, with success at a number of levels.

The senior side won the Division 1 league title and were unluckily beaten in the All-Ireland semi-final, while their Juniors, captured Munster & All-Ireland glory while there was also Munster & All-Ireland glory for the minors.

And it’s the minors who get the inter-county camogie year underway on Sunday in the Munster semi-final away to Limerick, as they look to defend their provincial title, against a Limerick side who will come into the game off the high of an extra time quarter-final victory over last years beaten All-Ireland finalists Waterford last Sunday.

The Premier County are under new management this year, with Moycarkey/Borris clubman Ray Ralph taking over the reins from John Ryan.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s game, Ralph is happy with the progress his side have made so far this year and with how training has been going.

“Things have been really positive so far, training has been going well, we have a great bunch of girls and looking forward to the challenges ahead,” he said.

“We don’t know too much about the other teams we will be facing this year, but we have played a few matches so far and things have been going well in them. Ralph is also hoping having ten players on the panel who were involves with last years side will make a big difference for his side throughout the year.

Hopefully the girls who were there last year will make a difference and will be leaders in the side and their experience will help us, especially in the big games.”

Ralph also doesn’t feel any extra pressure on his side coming into the year as reigning Munster and All-Ireland champions.

“No, I don’t feel any extra pressure on that front,” he stressed.

“It’s a new year, all teams are starting off on an even front, and while we have some players from last year, there is a lot of new players too, so in essence it’s a brand new squad and brand new start for us.

On facing Limerick in Sunday’s Munster semi-final, Ray is looking forward to the challenge the Treaty side will bring and knows it will be a tough opening fixture for his team.

“Limerick will be very tough opposition,” he said.

“They are doing great work underage in recent years, including winning the Under 16 All-Ireland last year, and are going to be a very tough game, but we are quietly confident that we can get the job done.”

Ralph is also adamant that Tipp will be taking the Munster championship seriously, and not looking ahead to the All-Ireland series which begins in March.

“It’s a big competition that we want to win, and then after that we can concentrate on the All-Ireland and our defence of that,” he said.

If Tipperary are to make it two-in-a-row and win another Munster and All-Ireland championship, they will have to bring the same intensity and work rate as last years team, with ten players who are still around from last years panel.

The likes of Leanna Coppinger, Danielle Butler will be key, and they will also be looking to Thurles Sarsfields Caoimhe Stakelum, who if she continues the way she is going will be a star of the game for years to come, and Ray Ralph will be hoping she carries her red hot from last year, into this and if she can Tipperary will be in with a great chance of retaining the Síghle Nic an Ultaigh Cup and winning it for a fourth time in the counties history.

Tipperary panel - *Denotes remaining from 2024 panel

Danielle Butler - Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill*

Ciara Cahill – Drom & Inch

Issy Carr – Holycross/Ballycahill

Leanna Coppinger - Thurles Sarsfields*

Maeve Cunneen – Silvermines

Kate Dowling – Moycarkey/Borris

Sarah English – Brian Borus

Roisin Ferncombe – Clonoulty/Rossmore

Ava Gaynor - Kilruane MacDonagh’s*

Clodagh Grimes – Newport/Ballinahinch

Lucy Heffernan - Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill*

Mya Hickey – Boherlahan-Dualla

Emma Kennedy – Lorrha

Isabelle Kingston – Kiladangan

Molly Loughnane - Roscrea

Aoibhe Maher – Brian Borus

Leah Maher – Boherlahan-Dualla

Elana McGrath – Holycross/Ballycahill*

Sarah McLoughlin – Boherlahan-Dualla*

Anna O’Brien - Cashel King Cormacs*

Lucy O’Brien – St Patrick’s

Isabelle O’Donnell – Brian Borus

Rachael O’Meara – CJ Kickhams Mullinahone*

Eva Ralph – Moycarkey/Borris

Doireann Ryan – Boherlahan-Dualla

Clodagh Shinners – Kilruane MacDonaghs

Caoimhe Stakelum - Thurles Sarsfields*

Eimhear Troy – Toomevara*