Tipperary ease past Limerick into Munster camogie final

Tipperary had eight different scorers, including six points each for Eimear McGrath and Caoimhe Stakelum

Tipperary will face the winners of Waterford and Kerry in the Munster camogie final. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Munster Senior Camogie Championship: Tipperary 0-25 Limerick 1-13 

Tipperary will be looking to secure a second Munster senior camogie championship title in four years after defeating Limerick in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday.

The nine-point margin might suggest a lopsided victory, but this is a resurgent Limerick who are starting to perform strongly again.

“We were just talking about the challenge Limerick brought,” Tipperary manager James Heffernan said.

“We had to earn a lot of our scores. They brought it back to six points at the start of the second half, it was a good game and ideal preparation for a Munster final.” 

That final against the winners of Kerry and Waterford will take place on May 16/17, and will be the third double-header of hurling/camogie this season.

Eight different scorers for Tipperary, including a dozen points shared between free-taker Eimear McGrath and Caoimhe Stakelum in a pillar to post victory.

They were 0-13 to 0-6 in front at the interval.

They will be happy to have those three weeks to prepare, as Celine Guinan joins fellow defender Isobel O’Donnell on the injured list.

“Celine has a knee issue but it is more muscular, so hopefully it is not too long term. It looks like Isobel has a stress fracture in her ankle, that could be more long term. Fingers crossed it is not.” 

For Limerick manager David Deady, this is a work-in-progress. Teenager Donna Kenny showed the way, converting nine excellent points from frees.

“They battled extremely hard,” he said. “The game was in danger of going away from us in the second half, but we finished strong. Girls came in and made a massive impact.

“Tipperary, they’re the teams you want to test yourself against. There were nine points in it in the end, that was 30 last year. You have to be realistic with your expectations.

“I thought the application and the spirit they showed was second to none.

“We’ll take an awful lot from it, so much learning. Tipp were incredibly efficient with their shooting opportunities.

“Overall, disappointed to lose the game but pleased with a lot of aspects.” 

Scorers for Tipperary: E McGrath (frees) and C Stakelum (0-2 frees) (0-6 each), E Heffernan (0-1 free) and R Howard (0-4 each), C McCarthy (0-2) K Kennedy, K Ralph and A Dwyer (0-1 each).

Scorers for Limerick: D Kenny (0-9 frees), L Boylan (1-0), D Egan (0-2, 0-1 free), O Kelleher and L Southern (0-1 each).

TIPPERARY: L Leenane; A Quinlisk, M Eviston, C Quirke; K Blair, C Maher, C McCarthy (Capt); K Kennedy, K Ralph; E Heffernan, R Howard, C McIntyre; C Stakelum, E McGrath, G O’Brien.

Subs: J Kelly for E McGrath (40), L Purcell for K Ralph (45), A Dwyer for C McIntyre (48), S Corcoran for K Blair, C Hennessy for C Stakelum (both 56).

LIMERICK: S Gillane; T Dore, C O’Riordan, E Woulfe; S O’Callaghan, S Woulfe, E O’Donovan; A Larkin, O Kelleher (J-Capt); S O’Brien, L Boylan, D Kenny; L Southern, R Delee (J-Capt), S Cunningham.

Subs: C Curtin for R Delee (9 inj), C Ryan for T Dore (half-time), E O’Halloran for E Woulfe (44), C Power for C O’Riordan (50 temp), M Geary for E O’Donovan, D Egan for D Kenny (both 56).

Referee: Joe Mullins (Clare).