Tipp trump Cork to reach Munster Intermediate decider | Nenagh ...

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Laura Shinners (Tipperary).

SCORERS – Tipperary: Jenny Grace 0-9 frees; Sinead Meagher 1-1; Laura Shinners, Jill-Anne Quirke 0-2 each; Anna Fahie, Eva O’Dwyer 0-1 each.

Cork: Emily O’Donoghue 1-5 (1-4 frees); Cliona Dooley, Eimear Duignan 0-2 each; Fiona Nelligan, Niamh O’Regan 0-1 each.

Tipperary qualified for the Munster Intermediate Camogie Championship final after a deserved win over Cork on Saturday afternoon.

In doing so they gained a measure of revenge for their National League Division 2B final defeat at the hands of the same opposition in March.

It was a deserved win for the Premier County, who were the better team throughout in a game that was far from a classic but was lively. Tipp were excellent defensively giving very little away and when they came under pressure towards the end, they stood resolute and there was just no way through for the Rebelettes.

The Premier ladies led throughout and never really looked in any danger of losing as they played some great camogie, hitting some wonderful scores, particularly two monstrous points from the very impressive Laura Shinners in the first half. Best for Tipp were Ciara Ryan, Sophie Pembroke, Anna Fahie, Laura Shinners and Jenny Grace, while for the Lee-siders Aoife Barrett and Fiona Nelligan impressed.

Tipperary opened the scoring in the fourth minute through a Jenny Grace free who added a second shortly after. Cork replied in the seventh minute with a fine score from Niamh O’Regan from out by the sideline. Grace then stepped up again with the next two scores from frees to leave her side 0-4 to 0-1 ahead in the 11th minute.

The away side would be level two minutes later when they were awarded a penalty, when following a Fiona Nelligan long ball, the referee noticed a foul on Emily O’Donoghue, and it was O’Donoghue who stepped up and gave Laura Leenane no chance in the Tipp goal.

Tipp were back ahead in the 17th minute through another Grace free and had the chance to goal from a penalty of their own a minute later, when Grace was fouled, but despite having two attempts after being ordered to retake the first, both were saved by Cork keeper Ciara Hurley.

The miss didn’t affect Tipp and they hit the next two scores from Jill-Anne Quirke, her sides first from play, then another Jenny Grace effort from a free. Cork would respond through a O’Donoghue free to leave just two points in it.

Then up stepped Laura Shinners for Tipp with a stunning score from the halfway line, which was followed up by another from play by Sinead Meagher, as Tipp opened a four-point lead. An O’Donoghue free in the 29th minute had the score at 0-9 to 1-3, before Grace added another to her tally from a free, which were followed by another long-range effort from Shinners and then another Grace free to leave the half-time score 0-12 to 1-3 in favour of Tipperary.

The second half took a few minutes to get going, but it was the home side first on the scoresheet from Jill-Anne Quirke to extend their lead. Cork would respond with two scores from play from Eimear Duignan and O’Donoghue again to keep themselves in the game.

Both sides then traded scores with Jenny Grace for Tipp and then Cliona Dooley responding for the Rebelettes after a fine team move after 48 minutes.

A minute later, came the key moment when Sinead Meagher goaled for Tipp, after her first effort was saved, she knocked in the rebound to put her side 1-14 to 1-6 ahead.

Emily O’Donoghue responded for Cork, before Anna Fahie had Tipp eight ahead again with a fine effort from play. Cork hit the next two scores from O’Donoghue and Duignan, before sub Eva O’Dwyer hit Tipp’s last score of the game in the final minute of normal time.

Cork then put the Tipperary defence under pressure for the remainder of the game, with O’Donoghue having a 21-metre free saved, before Fiona Nelligan pointed when a goal chance was on. O’Donoghue went close again deep in added time with another free, but this was also kept out by the Tipp defence before Cliona Dooley hit the last score with the last puck of the game.

Tipperary now play Kerry in the Munster Final next Saturday evening.

TEAMS – Tipperary: Laura Leenane (Shannon Rovers 6), Lorna Ryan (Clonoulty/Rossmore 7), Ciara Ryan (Silvermines 8), Tara Hoare (Drom & Inch 7); Orla O’Brien (Eire Og Annacarty 7), Sophie Pembroke (Gortnahoe/Glengoole 8), Lily Fahie (Cashel King Cormacs 6); Amy Quinlisk (Kilruane MacDonaghs 6), Anna Fahie (Cashel King Cormacs 7); Emma Flanagan (Moycarkey/Borris 6), Jill-Anne Quirke (Toomevara 6), Ciara Brennan (St Cillian’s 6); Laura Shinners (Kilruane MacDonaghs 9), Sinead Meagher (Kiladangan 7), Jenny Grace (Burgess/Duharra 9).

Subs: Gillian McKenna (Shannon Rovers 7) for Quirke (35), Maria Connolly (Drom & Inch 6) for Quinlisk (45), Eva O’Dwyer (Eire Og Annacarty 6) for Shinners (55).

Cork: Ciara Hurley (6); Aisling Egan (6), Caoimhe O’Donoghue (6), Grainne Hannon (6), Meadhbh De Burca (6), Aoife Barrett (8), Maedhbh Ring (6), Olivia McAllen (6), Orla Keating (7), Eimear Duignan (7), Cliona Dooley (7), Fiona Nelligan (8), Niamh O’Regan (6), Emily O’Donoghue (8), Hannah O’Leary (6).

Subs: Kate Walsh (8) for Keating (38); Edel Sheehan (6) for C O’Donoghue (41); Ciara Morrison (7) for O’Leary (45); Laura Buttimer (6) for Ring (52); Amy O’Sullivan (6) for Egan (55).

Referee: Johnny O’Donnell (Limerick).

TIPPERARY v KERRY

Ballyagran

Saturday, 18th May

Throw-in @ 4.00pm