Tipperary blow away Clare in third round of camogie league in the Ragg

VERY National Camogie League - Round 3

Tipperary 1-20

Clare 0-7

By Ronan Loughnane

Tipperary’s bid for a place in this year’s League final remains on track after a very comfortable victory over a below par Clare side at the Ragg on Saturday afternoon last.

Following their ferocious battle with Cork a fortnight previously, Saturday’s encounter was the polar opposite with the Clare challenge never getting off the ground. In comparison Tipperary were at it from the word go and with the strong wind behind them they went about their business with great gusto. Cait Devane got them up and running from a free in the opening minute following good work from Casey Hennessy before Eimear McGrath landed a ’65 a minute later.

Three lovely points from play from Grace O’Brien, Caoimhe Maher and Niamh Treacy had Tipp five up inside seven minutes. A beautiful pass from Grace O’Brien put Niamh Treacy through on goal in the 8th minute but an excellent save from Clarecastles Doireann Murphy kept her at bay.

The Banner were struggling to get forward against the breeze with any forays into Tipp territory quickly dealt with by a very strong half-back line where Mairead Eviston, Karen Kennedy and Ciardha Maher were physically very dominant.

Eimear McGrath landed an excellent free from distance before Treacy and Maher both added their second from play and Tipp were eight up by the 22nd minute. Aoife McGrath replaced the injured Clodagh Quirke (hip) in the 23rd minute.

For all their dominance Tipp should have been further ahead on the scoreboard considering Clare were turning to play with the wind. Six unanswered points before the short whistle courtesy of Devane (0-4), Eimear McGrath (0-1f) and Treacy, coupled with the dismissal of Clare cornerback Ciara Grogan (second yellow), effectively killed the tie as Tipp retired 0-14 to 0-0 ahead.

Despite the scale of the mountain ahead of them Clare battled valiantly throughout the second half but the Tipp defence remained in defiant mood. Aoife McGrath landed a lovely point from play before Clare finally opened their account in the 38th minute through Lorna McNamara. An excellent Karen Kennedy delivery found Cait Devane who pointed from play before McNamara replied again for Clare.

Niamh Treacy landed her fourth from play in the 40th minute before a cracking pass from O’Brien found Caoimhe Maher who buried the game's only goal two minutes later.

There were substitutions galore from there to the finish and as the game drifted towards its inevitable conclusion, most minds in the reasonable attendance switched to thoughts of the oval ball and all things Grand Slam.
Clare added five points to Cait Devane’s three in the closing quarter to leave Tipp 1-20 to 0-7 ahead before referee Liz Dempsey from Thomastown called time.

Tipperary: Aine Slattery; Julieanne Bourke, Clodagh Quirke, Eimear Loughman; Mairead Eviston, Karen Kennedy, Ciardha Maher; Teresa Ryan, Casey Hennessy; Roisin Howard Eimear McGrath (0-3, 0-2f, 0-1 ‘65), Caoimhe Maher (1-2); Grace O’Brien (0-1), Cait Devane (0-9, 0-4f, 0-1 ‘65), Niamh Treacy (0-4).

Subs: Aoife McGrath (0-1) for Quirke (23, inj); Caoimhe McCarthy for Howard (42); Eimear Heffernan for O’Brien (42); Ereena Fryday for Caoimhe Maher (42); Grace Moloney for Hennessy (46); Mary Ryan for Kennedy (50); Sorcha Ryan for Ciardha Maher (50); Lily Fahie for Bourke (56).

Clare: Doireann Murphy; Susan Daly, Clare Hehir (0-1), Ciara Grogan; Alannah Ryan, Niamh O’Dea, Ellen Casey; Caoimhe Carmody, Abby Walsh; Caoimhe Kelly, Rebecca Foley, Chloe Morey (0-1f); Zi Yan Spillane, Aine O’Loughlin, Lorna McNamara (0-2).

Subs: Muireann Scanlon, Laoise Ryan, Orlaith Duggan (0-2), Lynda Daly (0-1).

Referee: Liz Dempsey (Kilkenny)