O’Brien on song as Tipp win in Galway

CAMOGIE: Very Ireland National League Division 1A Round 3

Galway 1-13

Tipperary 2-14

Report: Joe Scully in Kilbeacanty

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Caoimhe McCarthy (Tipperary).

SCORERS – Galway: Mairead Dillon 1-1; Carrie Dolan (2 frees), Caoimhe Kelly 0-3 each; Olwyn Rabbitte, Niamh Mallon 0-2 each; Aine Keane, Ailish O’Reilly 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Grace O’Brien 1-10 (0-9 frees); Clodagh McIntyre 1-0; Caoimhe McCarthy, Sarah Corcoran, Roisin Howard, Jean Kelly 0-1 each.

Tipperary made it two wins in a row in the National Camogie League with an impressive four-point victory Galway on Saturday.

In doing so, they extracted a small bit of revenge for last year’s All-Ireland semi-final defeat at the hands of the same opposition. It was a well-deserved win for the defending league champions, despite a slow start, they slowly worked their way into the game and played some superb camogie at times.

Once again, the foundations for the victory were laid by a superb defensive performance, particularly in the second-half when Tipp only conceded 1-2 with Galway’s two points coming in added time.

In saying that Tipperary only scored 1-3 themselves during the second period, a half which saw defensives well on top, but despite the low scoring it was still an exciting half of camogie, with the work-rate of both sides of the highest quality.

Tipperary would come away with an impressive away victory which very much keeps their hopes of reaching another league final alive, with Cork next on the horizon in two weeks’ time, in what will be another difficult examination for the Premier Ladies against the All-Ireland champions, while Waterford are also to come.

Galway were quicker out of the blocks and raced into a three points to nothing lead inside four minutes, through Mairead Dillon, Niamh Mallon, and Ailish O’Reilly.

Tipp finally got off the mark a minute later through a Grace O’Brien free, and she add another after eight minutes. Galway would hit the next two scores, both from play from Caoimhe Kelly, the second a fine score after turning her marker and finishing

brilliantly.

Once again, Tipp responded with two scores, first a fine Jean Kelly point after a superb catch and turn, then Grace O’Brien added another free, to leave the solitary in it once again.

The topsy turvy nature of the game continued with the Tribeswomen hitting the next two points with Caoimhe Kelly adding to her tally as she continued to cause all kinds of problems for the Tipperary rearguard, and then a great score from distance from Aine Keane.

Roisin Howard responded for the visitors with a fine score from out by the sideline after being set up by Jean Kelly. Olwen Rabbitte was next on the scoresheet for Galway to leave her side 0-8 to 0-5 ahead with twenty minutes played.

Grace O’Brien took over the show at this stage hitting three unanswered points, two from placed balls, and the third, a brilliant finish after being set up by Caoimhe Maher to level proceedings.

A Carrie Dolan free had the Connacht side back ahead but Tipp were level a minute later through a Caoimhe McCarthy effort following a fine run and finish. Niamh Mallon restored the home sides lead in the final minute of the half.

Tipperary were nearly in for a goal in the second minute of added time when Clodagh McIntyre was through on goal, but her effort was well saved by Galway keeper Sarah Healy for a 45, which Grace O’Brien converted.

From the resultant puckout, Galway’s Carrie Dolan made a superb catch and finished excellently to put her side back ahead, before Sarah Corcoran levelled again with a huge score from the halfway line.

In the 34th minute, Tipperary were ahead for the first time following a mis-hit shot from Jean Kelly fell to Grace O’Brien, who then hit an unstoppable shot to the back of the Galway net to leave her side three points ahead at the break.

The second-half was slow to get going, although Tipp had a great goal chance in the 35th minute but Caoimhe Maher saw her effort saved out for a 45. The opening score of the half came in the 40th minute and it brought the teams level once again after Mairead Dillon goaled for Galway, after she cut in and from a very tight angle hit a bullet of a shot to the net.

Tipperary finally got off the mark for the half in the 45th minute through another Grace O’Brien free, and it was the same player who added another free seven minutes later to leave her side two up with eight minutes to play.

Three minutes later and the gap was out to five following a Clodagh McIntyre goal after she beat three Galway players and finished to the back of the net.

Carrie Dolan and O’Brien then traded frees as Tipperary saw out the remaining few minutes comfortably although Galway through Olwen Rabbitte had the final say deep into injury time with an effort from play.

TEAMS - Galway: Sarah Healy (7); Shauna Healy (6), Dervla Higgins (6), Rachael Hanniffy (6); Ciara Hickey (7), Emma Helebert (7), Katie Manning (7); Aine Keane (8), Olwen Rabbitte (8); Carrie Dolan (7), Ailish O’Reilly (7), Sabina Rabbitte (6); Mairead Dillon (8), Niamh Mallon (7), Caoimhe Kelly (8).

Subs: Ann Marie Starr (7) for S Rabbitte (45); Niamh Niland (6) for O’Reilly (52); Tegan Canning (NR) for Keane (56), Alannah Kelly (NR) for Manning (58).

Tipperary: Laura Leenane (Shannon Rovers 6); Clodagh Quirke (Clonoulty/Rossmore 6), Julieanne Bourke (Borris-Ileigh 7), Eimear Loughman (Clonoulty/Rossmore 7); Caoimhe McCarthy (Knockavilla-D Kickhams 9), Mairead Eviston (Drom & Inch 8), Sarah Corcoran (Moycarkey/Borris 7); Casey Hennessy (Clonoulty/Rossmore 7), Niamh Treacy (Drom & Inch 8); Roisin Howard (Cahir 7), Mary Burke (Drom & Inch 6), Clodagh McIntyre (Lorrha 6); Jean Kelly (Eire Og Annacarty/D 7), Caoimhe Maher (Burgess/Duharra 6), Grace O’Brien (Nenagh Eire Og 8).

Subs: Lucy Purcell (Thurles Sarsfields 6) for Treacy (43); Eimear Heffernan (Knockavilla-D Kickhams 6) for Burke (47); Niamh Cunneen (Silvermines 6) for Kelly (50), Ellen Cunneen (Silvermines NR) for Hennessy (60).

Referee: Brian Kearney (Kildare).