Tipperary ease past Limerick into Munster camogie final
Tipperary will face the winners of Waterford and Kerry in the Munster camogie final. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Tipperary have returned to the Munster senior camogie championship final for the first time since claiming victory in 2023, following their nine-point win over Limerick at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday.
Given that they are further down the road in their development compared to Limerick, it was no surprise to see them progress where they will meet the winners of Kerry and Waterford on the weekend of May 16/17, in another double-header.
There were eight different scorers for Tipperary, including a dozen points shared between Eimear McGrath and Caoimhe Stakelum, in a pillar to post victory.
Credit to Limerick who fought to the bitter end, epitomised by nailing the final four points of the hour.
And goalkeeper Sarah Gillane - sister of Aaron - who pulled off three outstanding saves in the second half.
James Heffernan made three changes from the quarter-final with Caoimhe Maher replacing the injured Celine Guinan, and Clodagh Quirke and Eimear Heffernan coming in for Eimear Loughman and Aoife Dwyer.
Tipperary did the early running and were three points to one up after 10 minutes with Eimear McGrath and Donna Kenny accurate from frees - referee Joe Mullins was strict on over-carrying.
Kenny etched another point to her name in the 12th minute to close the gap to a single point, but that was as close as David Deady’s side could get.
Their cause was not helped when experienced full-forward Rebecca Delee was forced off injured in the opening stages.
Physically stronger, Tipperary rattled off the next eight points without reply - seven from open play with former minor star Stakelum landing three and midfielders Kate Ralph and Karen Kennedy also contributing.
Teenager Kenny was superb from placed balls, no matter what the distance or angle and into the breeze, she was equal to the task.
Shauna Cunningham was playing deep for Limerick, but that also meant they were all too often outnumbered up front.
They closed the gap to six points at the end of first-half regulation, but in the four additional minutes McGrath notched her fourth free while captain Caoimhe McCarthy pushed forward to extend their advantage.
Kenny’s sixth point of the half left her side trailing 0-13 to 0-6 at the interval.
Limerick held their own at the start of the second half, but they couldn’t translate their work-rate onto the scoreboard.
By the end of the third quarter, the lead had stretched to 11 points.
However, they raised a green flag in the 46th minute - the only one of the day - and it was a fantastic solo effort from Lizanna Boylan, 0-20 to 1-9.
Tipperary notched the next five points to pull clear once more.
With the help of their bench, including a brace from Dearbhla Egan, Limerick closed the gap to nine in stoppage time.
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).
D Kenny (0-9 frees), L Boylan (1-0), D Egan (0-2, 0-1 free), O Kelleher and L Southern (0-1 each).
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.
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).
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.
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).
Joe Mullins (Clare).
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