Tipperary down Kilkenny in impressive home performance to claim first league win of 2025

Very Camogie National Camogie League - Division 1A - Round 2

Tipperary 0-17

Kilkenny 1-8

Even if they had to sweat a bit at the finish, holders, Tipperary were full value for their six-point win over Kilkenny in round two of the very National Camogie League, Division 1A at The Ragg on Saturday.

The game was 30 minutes late. Starting with referee Justin Heffernan, he was experiencing mechanical difficulties as he had to take charge of the trip from Wexford.

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Having been caught late as Dublin forced a draw in round one, Tipp could not afford a second setback, and looked the better side all through but a Kilkenny goal with eight minutes to play, and Tipp leading by six points, caused some concern briefly but to their credit, the Tipp girls reasserted themselves in the closing minutes to re-establish their six points advantage and set themselves up nicely for round three away to Galway.

With key players Karen Kennedy and Karin Blair recovering from surgery, and Eimear McGrath sidelined for the year following a cruciate operation, Tipp manager Denis Kelly used their absence to “blood” some younger players and he has to be happy with how things are going and also with the fact that Karen Kennedy and Karin Blair are expected to figure in upcoming rounds.

Conditions were ideal, though the pitch was a trifle grassy as Tipp quickly set about their task. Grace O Brien’s brace of pointed frees settled them and further points from Caoimhe Maher and Clodagh McIntyre had the home team ahead 0-4 to 0-3 at the end of the first quarter.

Tipp raised the tempo in the second quarter and further points from O Brien(2 frees), Mairead Eviston, and Mary Burke had them 0-8 to 0-4 ahead at the break and looking comfortably in control.

Within ten minutes of resuming Tipp looked to have put the game to bed with unanswered point doubles from McIntyre and O Brien for a 0-12 to 0-4 lead. Aoife Prendergast was Kilkenny’s main scoring threat from frees and she landed two before Caoimhe Keher Murtagh netted for Kilkenny in the 52nd minute to bring them right back into the game on a 0-13 to 1-7 scoreline.

With the threat presented as Kilkenny pushed forward in search of further scores, the Tipp girls rose to the challenge in impressive style outscoring their rivals four points to one in the closing minutes to secure their first brace of points in the league.

It was a win that will surely boost confidence facing the trip to Galway. Room for improvement, certainly, but enough positives to keep the manager happy this early in the year. 

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Galway defeated Kilkenny in the opening round so there is no room for complacency on the part of the Premier girls.  Tipp’s defensive play was impressive, closing down opponents quickly when danger presented and using the ball intelligently to set up counter attacks. 

Mairead Eviston led by example at the heart of the defence ably supported by Julieanne Burke. Casey Hennessy and Niamh Treacy did sterling work at midfield while in attack, Clodagh McIntyre, and Caoimhe Maher excelled, with Grace O Brien very reliable from placed ball.

A second defeat almost certainly puts paid to Kilkenny’s league prospects and they will need to improve considerably to be in the shake up for honours in this year’s championship. Their attack made little headway against a strong Tipp rearguard, Aoife Prendergast being the exception. 

Laura Murphy’s pace also gave Tipp some problems while Steffi Fitzgerald, Caoimhe Dowling, Tiffanie Fitzgerald and Miriam Bambrick also had fine games.

Tipperary: Laura Leenane; Niamh Costigan, Julianne Bourke, Eimear Loughman; Caoimhe McCarthy, Mairead Eviston (0-1), Clodiagh Quirke; Casey Hennessy (0-1), Niamh Treacy; Roisin Howard (0-1), Caoimhe Maher (0-2), Clodagh McIntyre (0-3); Eimear Heffernan, Mary Burke (0-1), Grace O’Brien (0-7, 0-6f).

Subs used: Ellen Cunneen for Costigan (33); Sarah Corcoran for Heffernan (53); Jean Kelly (0-1) for Burke (59); Celine Guinan for Quirke (59).

Kilkenny: Aoife Norris; Michelle Teehan, Tiffanie Fitzgerald, Ave Brett; Niamh Deely, Caoimhe Doiwling, Miriam Bambrick; Aobha O’Gorman, Katie Byrne (0-1); Asha McHardy, Steffi Fitzgerald, Mary O’Connell; Aoife Prendergast (0-5, 0-4f), Katie Nolan, Laura Murphy (0-1). 

Subs used: Kellyann Doyle for McHardy (HT);  Laura Greene for Byrne (HT); Danielle Quigley for Nolan (47); Caoimhe Keher Murtagh (0-1) for O’Connell (47); Claire Doheny (1-0) for O’Gorman (47); Carlise Comerford for Bambrick (55). 

Referee: Justin Heffernan (Wexford)