Tipperary U16s knocked out of championship by impressive Galway team

All-Ireland U16A Camogie Championship Semi-Final

It was a bad day at the office for the Tipperary U16 team as they were well beaten by a classy Galway outfit in Mallow GAA on Saturday afternoon in the All-Ireland semi-final.

Having recorded two excellent wins in a row over Limerick and Cork Tipp were coming into this encounter in very good form and supporters travelled in real hope of reaching an All-Ireland Final.

Bill Mullaney’s side started brightly with the opening two scores of the game both from play from Sophie Lee and Caoimhe Stakelum in the 2nd and 4th minute.

Despite the positive start Tipp could only manage one more score in the half and that didn’t come until the 20th minute when Caoimhe Stakelum split the posts.

The signs of the goal threat that the Galway forwards have was evident early in the game when they threatened a green flag after only five minutes.

Ten minutes later Kerri O’Driscoll was bearing down on goal but her shot was well saved by Sarah Quinlan and out for a 45 which Cara O’Brien pointed.

This was one of four points Galway hit in a row with the excellent Katie Lawless hitting two and a free and the 45m from Cara O’Brien.

Galway were starting to really get on top and Caoimhe Stakelum’s 20th minute point did little to stem the Galway momentum.

Two goals and a point in the final seven minutes of the half put them firmly in the driving seat with a 2-5 to 0-3 lead at the break.

Their first goal was a superb solo effort from the influential Emma Barrett at midfield with the second finished by Mary Brigid Cosgrove after a well-worked Galway move.

Tipp looked in real trouble and a big second-half performance was needed to bridge the gap. But unfortunately for all concerned that performance didn’t come as Galway quickly extended their lead with a second Cosgrove goal four minutes into the second half.

Tipp never gave up working but failed time and again to break down a resolute Galway defence. Ciara Cahill pointed in the 58th minute while Maeve Cunneen raised a white flag in injury time but not before Galway substitute Katie Flaherty struck for 1-1 in the space of two minutes as Galway marched into an All-Ireland Final where they will meet Cork who defeated Wexford in their semi-final

Tipperary: Sarah Quinlan (Holycross Ballycahill); Leana Coppinger (Thurles Sarsfields), Molly Loughnane (St Cronan’s Roscrea) Sarah McLoughlin (Boherlahan Dualla); Ciara Cahill (Drom-Inch), Isobel O’Donnell (Brian Borus), Clodagh Grimes (Newport Ballinahinch); Mya Hickey (Boherlahan Dualla), Anna O’Brien (cashel King Cormacs); Lucy O’Brien (St Patrick’s), Ava Gaynor (Kilruane MacDonaghs) Sophie Lee (Holycross Ballycahill); Eimhear Troy (Toomevara), Danielle Butler (Eire Og Annacarty) Caoimhe Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields).

Subs used: Isabelle Carr, Lucy Heffernan, Maeve Cunneen, Sinead O’Carroll.

Referee: Barry Nea (Westmeath)