Tipperary turn on the style to demolish Antrim and power on in the championship

Tipperary made light work of Antrim at Croke Park on Saturday last to qualify for the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie championship semi-final. 

A merciless second half performance returned a 26 point victory in the end, which highlighted the difference in class between the sides.

 The Munster champions took some time though to get into their rhythm against the Saffrons but once they found top gear they met little resistance. By the end of the game the Antrim players were just relieved to have eventually heard the full time whistle. 

Despite the victory margin though, the Ulster side held the favourites at bay for most of the first half. 

Antrim half forward Mary McKillen started back alongside their centre back Amy Boyle and Tipperary took some time to break down the defensive wall but, as the half wore on, the winners found more space. Once the second half got underway they had acres of it to score freely. 

The game started with the lively Grace O'Brien firing over a good point in the Hill 16 End before further points for Tipp from Clodagh McIntyre and Cáit Devane. 

Antrim stayed in touch as three frees sailed over the bar in the opening minutes, with Róisín McCormick scoring two of them and a long range strike from Niamh Cosgrove, ensuring the teams were tied at 0-3 a piece on fifteen minutes. 

Antrim were hurling well at that stage but were visibly tiring as the half wore on. Tipperary looked fitter and stronger.

Three frees from Eimear McGrath, two points from Devane and one point from Casey Hennessy approaching the break gave Tipperary an 0-10 to 0-5 lead by half time. 

Far from praising his team at half time, Denis Kelly told the Tipperary players they needed to play better and work harder for the second half. They duly did so on both counts. 

From the throw in at the restart Tipperary attacked. Within a couple of seconds, centre forward Caoimhe Maher had the ball in her possession and headed straight for goal.

Waiting inside was Cáit Devane and in a quick move the ball was struck past the Antrim keeper. Just 12 seconds of the half were played by then. 

Tipperary had ignited and the game was over as a contest simply because Antrim heads sank low and they lost the pattern and system they had played with in the first half.

Without a game plan, they offered no resistance. Quick fire confidently struck points from Devane, Caoimhe Maher, Roisin Howard and Eimear McGrath followed which pushed Tipperary 1-17 to 0-5 ahead on 45 minutes.

 Then, just after, another Tipperary attack resulted in a second goal which put the Munster champions eighteen points clear. Caoimhe McCarthy fired in a low shot which was blocked by Catrina Graham but the ball broke nicely for the onrushing Eimear Heffernan who pulled first time close to the ground just before the net shook.

The half time substitute made a big impact on the second half and after her goal she struck four points to put her name firmly in the mix for a starting position next weekend. 

By now Antrim players were hoping for the full time whistle but another crushing blow arrived soon after when McCarthy, again driving unmarked through the middle, unloaded to the nearby Devane and the lurking veteran poacher connected first time with the ball which was floating towards her at shoulder height. 

She directed it to the right of the goalkeeper, just inside the net, in what was a top drawer finish. Overall Cáit Devane put in a five star performance on the day and finished the game with 2-6 against a porous Antrim defence. 

Others shone too with Eimear Heffernan in particular playing well in the forwards following her introduction, but the outstanding Karen Kennedy was the main anchor for Tipperary over the hour. 

In the first half, when others were slow to settle, she got straight down to business. Playing in a sweeper role she sent quality ball to the forwards and ensured Antrim found no opening in defence. Her reading of the game ensured she could set up the forwards for a bountiful afternoon and they delivered. 

Tipperary now go on to Nowlan Park next weekend where they will play Waterford for a place in the All-Ireland final. Tipp, who will be contesting their eighth semi-final in nine championships, will be looking to get to the final for the first time in 17 years. Exciting times lie ahead. 

SCORERS: 

Tipperary Scorers: C Devine (2-6, 0-4 frees), E Heffernan (1-4), E McGrath (0-5 frees), C McIntyre (0-2), R Howard (0-2), C Hennessy (0-1), C McCarthy (0-1), Caoimhe Maher (0-1), G O’Brien (0-1) 

Antrim Scorers: R McCormick (0-4, 3 frees), N Cosgrove (0-1 free), C Dobbin (0-1 free) 

TEAMS:

Tipperary: Á Slattery, J Bourke, M Eviston, E Loughman. K Blair, K Kennedy, A McGrath, T Ryan, C Hennessy, R Howard, Caoimhe Maher, E McGrath, G O’Brien, C Devane, C McIntyre. 

Subs: C McCarthy for C Hennessy (27), E Heffernan for G O’Brien (HT), M Ryan for A McGrath (39), Ciardha Maher for T Ryan (44), C Ryan for C McIntyre (50) 

Antrim: C Graham, C Patterson, K Laverty, M Lynn, N Cosgrove, A Boyle, L McKenna, L McNaughton, A Connolly, S McKillop, R McCormick, C Dobbin, K McKillop, M McKillen, Á Magill 

Subs: F Kelly for S McKillop (40), C McArthur for M McKillen (40), M McGarry for L McKenna (50), E McShane for K McKillop (50) E Kearns for C Patterson (56) 

Referee: Andy Larkin (Cork)