Tipperary minors make little of Clare challenge to clinch Munster Final spot

Munster Minor Camogie Championship Semi-Final

Tipperary 3-15

Clare 0-11

Tipperary beat Clare last Tuesday evening in the County Camogie Grounds, The Ragg in the Munster minor camogie semi-final in what was a top performance from the Premier girls.

The match was a lot closer than the final scoreline suggests with the Tipp girls only pulling away midway through the second half. 

Tipp got off to a great start when in the first minute Lucy Purcell was in the right place to finish the ball to the net after the Clare goalkeeper parried a shot from Boherlahan's Danielle Ryan. Clare got on the scoreboard in the fifth minute when Aoibhinn McNamara pointed a free. 

Annacarty's Danielle Ryan went on a brilliant run and got an excellent point and gave an indication of what was to follow from this outstanding player who was player of the match on the night. Lucy Purcell added two more points before halftime as did the aforementioned Danielle Ryan. Ciara Shelly got a point and Celine Guinan pointed a free.

 Clare had their purple patch coming up to half time and carried the fight to the home team. Clare's wingback Lauren Slater was forced to leave the field early in the first half with a shoulder injury and her replacement, Neasa Ní Lachtnáin had a great impact for the remainder of the first half. Meave Millea scored two nice points and Sophie Conway scored a point, but their scorer in chief was Aoibhin McNamara who finished the half with one point from play, two from frees and two 45s, which left the half time scoreline Tipperary 1-7, Clare 0-8

The early stages of the second half were cagey and scores were scarce with just two pointed frees from Celine Guinan. Annacarty's Danielle Ryan scored a smashing goal in the forty second minute after a great run and pass from her Boherlahan namesake to begin the process of putting clear daylight between the teams. 

At this stage centre back and sweeper Shauna Heffernan had a huge influence carrying ball after ball to the Tipperary forwards which led to further points from Kate Ralph, Lucy Purcell, Celine Guinan and Kate Ferncombe. Annacarty's Danielle Ryan also helped herself to another goal finishing the game with 2-5, all from play.

 The second half was a struggle for Clare but they still put together some lovely inter passing movements which created three points, two from play, from the impressive Sophie Conway and a free from Aoibhin McNamara. 

Overall Tipperary were the better team with fine performances all over the field and they can look forward to an upcoming Munster final against Cork.

Tipperary:  Aoife Gleeson; Aoife Burke, Alison Fitzgerald, Paula Quirke; Aoife Mellerick, Shauna Heffernan, Eabha Dolan; Kate Ralph, Celine Guinan; Danielle Ryan, Sarah Corcoran, Kate Ferncombe; Ciara Shelly, Danielle Ryan, Lucy Purcell. 

Subs used: Ali O Kelly for Ciara Shelly; Hazel Brennan for Danielle Ryan; Sophie Maher for Aoife Mellerick; Emer Dwan for Danielle Ryan; Cathlyn Treacy for Lucy Purcell.

Clare: Eva O Halloran; Aoibhinn Marren, Caomhe Ryan, Leah McInerney; Lauren Slater, Sophie Torpey, Roisin O Grady; Cliodhna Queally, Elisha Rynne; Aoibhin McNamara, Caoimhe Cahill, Aisling Moloney; Maeve Millea, Sophie Conway, Danielle Beston.

Subs used: Neasa Ní Lachtnáin for Lauren Slater; Alison Collins for Roisin O Grady; Áine Longe for Aoibhinn Marren; Charlotte Chaplin for Aoibhin McNamara; Eimear Heffernan for Caomhe Ryan; Clodagh Quinn for Sophie Torpey.