Defeat by Cork means it's all or nothing for Tipperary against Waterford in Minor A camogie championship
Tipp led at half-time but were overwhelmed on the turnover
Tipperary suffered a nine-point defeat by Cork in Cork on Sunday in the Electric Ireland Minor A Camogie Championship round 4 game. The result means that Tipperary will go head-to-head with Waterford in a must win game this weekend, with the winner taking the final semi-final spot.
Playing with the aid of the wind, Tipperary made a good start with two points from the stick of the impressive Celine Guinan, but Cork soon responded with two frees from Emily O’Donoghue.
Guinan edged Tipperary back in front with another point before a Danielle Ryan goal on 18 minutes made it 1-3 0-2. Ryan’s goal was a slick move involving her namesake Danielle Ryan of Boherlahan/Dualla soloing at the Cork defence and feeding Lucy Purcell, who quickly set Danielle Ryan (Eire Og Annacarty) free to bury a shot in the net.
Cork finished the half strongly with two points from Kate Fennessy and Emily O’Donoghue to leave the half time score 1-3 to 0-4 in Tipperary’s favour.
The wind picked up strength in the second half and brought with it a renewed energy and brilliant workrate to Cork’s play. Within four minutes of the restart Cork were back on level terms and Tipp started to come under more and more pressure. A Danielle Ryan free gave Tipperary a slender one-point lead heading into the final 15 minutes.
The final quarter belonged to Cork, as they scored four points without reply to put them into a one-point lead. Now pushing for home Cork were not going to be denied, as two Ciara Morrison goals finished the game as a contest and ensured that Cork, with a game to go against Galway this weekend, are through to the last four, irrespective of the result.
Meanwhile, Tipperary need a result against Waterford to make the semi-finals.
Tipperary will rue missed chances throughout the game, in particular four scorable chances for points early in the second half when they were on top. Best for Tipp were Paula Quirke, Aoife Bourke, Shauna Heffernan, Sarah Corcoran and Alison Fitzgerald.
Scorers for Cork: C Morrison 2-1, E O’ Donoghue 0-6 (4 frees, 2 45s), M Condon 0-2, K Fennessy 0-1.
Tipperary: D Ryan 1-1 (0-1 free), C Guinan 0-3 (2 45s).
Cork: C Lane; M De Burca, S Hurley, C O’ Donoghue; O Cremin, L Dunlea, E Duignan; M Condon, A Fitzgerald; A Sheppard, C Morrison, N MC Nabola; K Fennessy, E O’ Donoghue, G Finn.
Subs: E Curtain for N Mc Nabola (47), A McCarthy for A Sheppard (55), A O’ Sullivan for L Dunlea (58), C Rice for C O’ Donoghue (61), A Daly for O Cremin (61), H Healy for M De Burca (64).
Tipperary: M Gilmartin; A Bourke, A Fitzgerald, P Quirke; S Heffernan, S Corcoran, N Franks; K Ferncombe, K Ralph; D Ryan, C Guinan, H Brennan; E Dwan, D Ryan, L Purcell.
Subs: A O’ Kelly for H Brennan (half-time), K Meehan for M Gilmartin (40), E Franklin for D Ryan (43), E Browne for E Dwan (55), A Mellerick for N Franks (56), R O’ Mara for A Fitzgerald (injured, 65).