Tipperary extend Waterford's wait for Munster senior camogie title
TIPP TOP: Tipperary captain Caoimhe McCarthy and her teammates with the cup after the Munster Senior Camogie Championship final against Waterford at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles. [ic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Tipperary secured a second Munster senior camogie championship title in four years at FBD Semple Stadium on Saturday evening.
Caoimhe Stakelum’s goal midway through the second-half was key. The Leaving Cert student was clinical with her finish in a game that see-sawed all the way up to then.
The free-taking skills demonstrated by Eimear McGrath was another high-point for Tipperary, she finished with seven from placed balls and was awarded Player of the Match.
For Waterford the long wait goes on.
This in spite of Abby Flynn getting them off to a flying start with a pair of quick-fire points from play in the second minute.
Grace O’Brien pulled one back for Tipperary a minute later when her angled shot from the sideline crept inside the right post.
And with the benefit of the wind, the Premier side made their first raid on goal when McGrath collected Stakelum’s pass but her shot was diverted for a ’45, which was converted by McGrath, 0-2 apiece.
Karen Blair, as she regularly does, came up from wingback to push Tipperary back into the lead but when free-taker Niamh Rockett sent over a brace, it was Waterford by one just after the quarter hour mark.
It was evident at this early stage, this contest would go to the wire.
With the play ebbing and flowing the pendulum swung back Tipperary’s way when Eimear Heffernan and captain Caoimhe McCarthy (the second defender to score) landed two brilliant white flags.
Beth Carton, who was picked up by Amy Quinlisk, got her first score in the 22nd minute.
Captain Lorraine Bray ensured the outcome remained in the melting pot, 0-6 to 0-5.
In the remaining four minutes plus stoppage time, McGrath landed a trio of frees, two excellent strikes from long range for Tipperary to lead 0-8 to 0-6 at the interval.
It was Tipperary who set the tone again with a strong restart when Stakelum split the posts and a McGrath free put them four ahead.
Without a score for 15 minutes, Waterford found the range through Alannah O’Sullivan and Beth Carton but it only served as momentary relief.
When Stakelum gathered the sliotar out on the wing and raced forward she rifled past ‘keeper Brianna O’Regan in the 42nd minute for Tipperary to push 1-10 to 0-8 in front.
It signalled Waterford to make three substitutes in quick succession.
Eimear O’Neill drew a save from Laura Leenane in the Tipperary goal and outside her the defence were defiant and calm under pressure.
They denied Waterford gain any sort of momentum.
The closest they could get was three points.
In a gripping finish, they were awarded a couple of close-in frees where they were forced to go for goal or drop the ball into the danger area, and each time James Heffernan’s charges dealt with what came their way.
They saw it out much to the delight of the big home support.
*Before the game a minute of silence was observed in memory of Laura Kennedy who died tragically this week.
E McGrath (0-7, 0-6 frees, 0-1 45), C Stakelum (1-1), E Heffernan and K Blair (0-2 each), C McCarthy and G O’Brien (0-1 each).
B Carton (0-2 frees) and A Flynn (0-4 each), N Rockett (0-2), A O’Sullivan, M O’Brien, L Bray and R Kirwan (0-1 each).
L Leenane; A Quinlisk, M Eviston, E Loughman; K Blair, C Maher, C McCarthy (capt); K Kennedy, K Ralph; E Heffernan, R Howard, C McIntyre; C Stakelum, E McGrath, G O’Brien.
C Hennessy for K Ralph (36), S Corcoran for R Howard (48), J Kelly for C McIntyre (50), C Guinan for C McCarthy (54), A Dwyer for K Blair (60).
B O’Regan; A McNulty, L Forrest, V Falconer; R Walsh, K Corbett Barry, C Carroll; L Bray (capt), O Hickey; A O’Sullivan, B Carton, E O’Neill; A O’Flynn, N Rockett, A Fitzgerald.
M O’Brien for A O’Sullivan (42), R Kirwan for N Rockett (44), B Bowdren for O Hickey (46), M Gostl for R Walsh (54).
Aaron Hogg (Clare).
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