Tipperary camogie bridge 20 year gap to win epic league final

Very National Camogie League - Division 1A Final

Tipperary 1-13

Galway 0-15

Tipperary are camogie league champions for the first time since 2004 after edging a thrilling and epic Very National Camogie League Division 1A final in Croke Park on Sunday afternoon.

In what was a nail-biting finish to the game, Tipperary looked to have just done enough with the clock in second-half injury time. However, Galway were awarded a late, late injury time free which would be the final act of the game come what may - but to do sheer delighted and ecstasy for the Premier team and management, the free from Carrie Dolan drifted left of the post as referee Aaron Hogg blew the full-time whistle straight away after.

It was just deserts for this group of Tipperary players who have experienced so many disappointing days in the home of Gaelic Games in recent years, and it cannot be understated how big these results could be going forward into the championship, as it shrugs a considerably large money off their backs.

Indeed, the game may be remembered in the immediate aftermath for that missed free which ultimately decided the game, but Tipperary lead score came from an unlikely source in the 58th minute of the game - at a time when the teams were level and Galway had scored four points in a row - as corner-back Karin Blair intercepted a pass out of the Galway defence with a class first touch and weaved through a few defenders before drilling an effort over off her right. A brilliant piece of individual play from the Cashel King Cormacs woman.

There were heroes all over the field on the day for Tipperary with Karen Kennedy playing a captains role in scoring 1-3 from play over the course of the 64 minutes, while Eimear McGrath again impressed in her free taking duties, particularly when Tipp were taking on water in the first half. 

There also has to be huge credit given to the defence with Mairead Eviston immense at full-back while Caoimhe McCarthy put in an incredible shift at wing-back all game and covered serious ground up and down the wing which set the tone throughout.

Scorers: Tipperary: Eimear McGrath 0-8f, Karen Kennedy 1-3, Karin Blair, Caoimhe McCarthy 0-1 each.

Galway: Carrie Dolan 0-5f, Ailish O’Reilly, Niamh Mallon 0-3 each, Aoife Donohue, Siobhan McGrath, Orlaith McGrath, Niamh Niland all 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Nicole Walsh; Karin Blair, Mairead Eviston, Eimear Loughman; Caoimhe McCarthy, Caoimhe Maher, Clodagh McIntyre; Teresa Ryan, Ellen Cunneen; Roisin Howard, Karen Kennedy, Casey Hennessy; Grace O’Brien, Eimear McGrath, Eimear Heffernan.

Subs used: Clodagh Quirke for McIntyre (25); Julieanne Bourke for Cunneen (25); Mary Burke for O’Brien (43); Mary Ryan for T Ryan (51); Aoife McGrath for Hennessy (58); Ciardha Maher for Heffernan (61).

Galway: Fiona Ryan; Rachael Hanniffy, Roisin Black, Dervla Higgins; Ava Crowe, Aine Keane, Ciara Hickey; Ally Hesnan, Ann Marie Starr; Aoife Donohue, Ailish O’Reilly, Niamh McPeake; Carrie Dolan, Siobhan McGrath, Orlaith McGrath.

Subs used: Niamh Hanniffy for Black (36); Niamh Kilkenny for Hesnan (42); Niamh Mallon for Donohue (45); Olwen Rabbitte for O’Reilly (53); Niamh Niland for McPeake (53); Sabina Rabbitte for O McGrath (60).

Referee: Donnacha O’Callaghan (Limerick)