Super sub Flanagan’s late brace does the trick for Tipperary

Two late goals from super sub Noreen Flanagan snatched victory for Tipperary over Kilkenny in a thrilling All-Ireland senior camogie championship tie at Nowlan Park.

The winners led 0-10 to 0-7 at half time but despite Nicole Walsh, Alice Fogarty and Jill Horan racking up good scores, the visitors squandered numerous chances with a strong wind in their favour.

Kilkenny stormed out on the restart when Katie Power set up Michelle Quilty for a goal after 12 seconds. The hosts were in the ascendancy for the next quarter with Aoife Neary and Power keeping the scoreboard operator busy. Seventeen-year-old Miriam Walsh had also registered two points before being forced to leave the fray with injury.

Tipp introduced three subs in the 48th minute to telling effect. Youngsters, Michaela Graham and Sarah Fryday provided the Premier outfit with much more energy but it was Flanagan who changed the course of the game with those late stunning strikes.

Cork returned to winning ways defeating Offaly (4-20 to 1-5). Claire Shine, Katrina Mackey, Katie Buckley and Linda Dorgan goaled for the winners. Mackey added four points to her major and Orla Cotter slotted five. Tina Hannon’s goal was of consolation value only.

Galway maintained their 100% record with a hard-fought 1-13 to 0-12 win over Clare at Cusack Park, as Fiona Lafferty and Claire McMahon helped edge them into a two-point lead after 24 minutes. Niamh McGrath slotted three points though and Galway led at half-time, 0-8 to 0-6.

The visitors opened the gap to three before Clare clawed themselves back to parity thanks to two McMahon scores and an excellent Katie Cahill point. Some bad wides hurt them however, while a Sarah Dervan intervention prevented them goaling in the 45th minute.

Four minutes later, Galway were raising the green flag and securing the honours. It came as Brenda Hanney gathered possession from an Aislinn Connolly delivery and off-loaded to the advancing Niamh Kilkenny, whose low shot gave Denise Lynch no chance.

Champions Wexford set up a mouth-watering clash with the westerners next week when recording a very good 2-20 to 1-4 defeat of Dublin.

But the win came at a cost with injuries to Mary Leacy (ankle), Una Leacy (hamstring) and Lisa Bolger (hand).