Tipperary minors dig out impressive victory against fancied Limerick team in All-Ireland fare

All-Ireland Minor A Camogie Championship - Round 4

Tipperary 0-11

Limerick 0-9

By Michael Dundon

Tipperary had to survive a severe buffeting from Limerick before claiming full points in a tightly fought All-Ireland minor camogie tie at The Ragg on Sunday.

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When Limerick drew level with six minutes to play it looked as though Tipp were facing defeat, but the Premier girls showed admirable courage as they fought back to finish two points the better, a win that sets them up nicely for their final round-robin game against Galway with places in the knock-out stages on offer.

A win was crucial for both sides to keep their knock-out hopes alive and Tipp’s gutsy performance deserved its reward, but Limerick were left to bemoan some erratic shooting in the second half as they set about erasing Tipperary’s three-point interval lead.

Praise to both teams for their efforts in very testing conditions. A deluge during their warm-up didn’t help and a blustery cross-field breeze made life difficult for both teams, but both gave it everything in a nail-biting encounter that had the attendance in fine voice throughout.

The early exchanges were very even, Evanne Duffy, Alice Butler and Abbie Horgan points for Tipp matching Limerick’s hat-trick of white flags after the first quarter. Mia Smith briefly put Limerick ahead but Tipp responded with five points without reply in their best spell of the game. The accurate Abbie Horgan shot three of those points, two from frees, with Alice Butler and Ailbhe Treacy also on the mark as Tipp pushed on for an interval lead of 0-8 to 0-5.

The three-point advantage was a reasonable return for their first-half efforts, but the second half saw Limerick get on top and it took some heroic defending by the Tipp girls, led by team captain Ciara Cahill, to deny them the goal they chased. Limerick were also having difficulty coping with the breeze, spurning some point chances, but gradually they reeled in the home team.

Abbie Horgan’s pointed free was Tipp’s only score of the third quarter. Limerick had two points in the period and two further points had them level at 0-9 each and looking likely winners with momentum behind them after fifty-four minutes. Questions were being asked of the Tipp girls but they rose magnificently to the challenge.

In the fifty-ninth minute Tipp won a free thirty metres out, but to the right-hand side. However, Abbie Horgan showed great composure under severe pressure as she nailed the point to get Tipp back in front again and in injury time, Emma Bonner doubled the advantage to secure a valuable win for Tipperary.

The Tipp management team and supporters had every reason for their delight at the finish. The win keeps Tipp in the frame for the knock-out stages and the character shown by the girls suggests they will not easily be pushed aside.

The heroics of the defence were inspiring with Kate Nevin, Eimear Ryan and Evanne Gleeson doggish in closing down the opposition. Ciara Cahill led by example in the number six shirt. Evanne Duffy had a stormer at midfield, ably assisted by Eva Ralph. Abbie Horgan’s accuracy in attack was crucial with Ailbhe Treacy also having a big game.

Limerick’s effort was commendable and came up just short, leaving them with some work to do, and depending on other results, if they are to make the knock-out stages. Their key players were Ornagh Barrett, Isabelle O’Brien, Anna Rose Benson, Aoibhinn O’Connor and Aisling Foley.

Scorers: Tipperary: Abbie Horgan (0-6, 0-5f), Alice Butler 0-2, Ailbhe Treacy, Emma Bonnar, Evanne Duffy 0-1 each.

Limerick: Rachel O’Grady, Aoibhinn O’Connor, Caitlin Ryan 0-2 each, Aisling Foley, Mia Smith, Hazel Horgan all 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Erin O'Donnell (Moyle Rovers); Eimear Ryan (Gortnahoe Glengoole), Kate Nevin (Templemore), Evanne Gleeson (Boherlahan Dualla); Grace Cleary (Nenagh Éire Óg), Ciara Cahill (Drom & Inch), Jessie Shanahan (Slieve Felim Rapparees); Eva Ralph (Moycarkey Borris); Evanne Duffy (Moyle Rovers); Emma Bonner (Cashel King Cormacs); Ailbhe Treacy (Silvermines), Abbie Horgan (Boherlahan Dualla); Isabelle Kingston (Kiladangan), Neasa Dwan (Boherlahan Dualla), Alice Butler (Slieve Felim Rapparees).

Subs used: Doireann Ryan (Boherlahan Dualla) for Butler (43); Ella Frend (Toomevara) for Cleary (45); Grace Stapleton (Borris-Ileigh) for Kingston (49).

Limerick: Emma Doherty; Tara Hynes, Ornagh Barrett, Aoife Morrissey; Sophie O'Riordan, Eileen Herbert, Isabelle O'Brien; Anna Rose Benson, Caitlin Ryan; Mia Smith, Aoibhinn O'Connor, Amber O'Sullivan-Hunt; Rachel O'Grady, Hazel Horgan, Aisling Foley.

Referee: Gavin Donegan (Dublin)

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