Ralph looking for improvement for quarter final

CAMOGIE: Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor ‘A’ Championship Quarter Final Preview

By Joe Scully

TIPPERARY v WEXFORD

Camogie grounds, The Ragg

Sunday, 30th March

Throw-in @ 2.00pm (E.T.)

Referee: Liz Dempsey (Kilkenny)

This Sunday afternoon, reigning champions Tipperary welcome Wexford to the County Camogie grounds for the All-Ireland Minor ‘A’ Championship quarter final.

Tipperary who come in to the game unbeaten with one win and two draws, finishing second in their group to Cork, and will be quietly confident going into the game, hoping the experience of last year, with eight players remaining from that All-Ireland success, will stand them in good stead.

Tipperary manager Ray Ralph is happy with how the build up to the game is going, but with quite a few injury worries among the squad.

“It’s going as good as it can be,” said the Moycarkey/Borris clubman.

“We have a lot of niggly injuries, and we are hoping to get a few back for the game.

“We took a lot of knocks in the Dublin game, and had quite a few injuries after the game, but we won’t be using that as an excuse.

“We have the physios working hard with the injured players and hopefully all will be ok come Sunday.”

Ralph knows his side are in for a tough physical battle, but feels the Dublin game will stand to them as he feels the sides have a lot of similarities with Wexford finishing third in their group recording one win from three games against Clare, having lost to Galway and Limerick.

“Wexford are a lot like Dublin in that they are a big physical team, and they are also well capable of taking their scores,” he revealed.

“I’m excepting a very tough physical battle, as are the girls, the match will be tight, make no mistakes Wexford are a good team.

“We will also be looking for a better start to the game than against Dublin, because if we start like we did that day we will be in big trouble.”

Having home advantage could be key on the day for Tipperary and Ralph certainly feels it will be to his sides advantage.

“Yeah, it’s a massive advantage in any game at any level,” he said.

“It’s a big plus and it has to be for us too on Sunday. The girls are used to the field, and I genuinely think it gives us a massive advantage.”

In what will be a closely contested game, Tipperary’s experience of being there and winning big games like this last year should just enough to get them over the line Sunday, but they will have to be at their best if they are to continue their defence of their All-Ireland crown.