Disappointing campaign ends on a high note with huge Tipperary win over Dublin
Tipperary 5-21 Dublin 0-6
A polished performance in the final game of the All-Ireland series was served up by Tipperary's senior camogie team when they tore into Dublin by completely outclassing them on a dull overcast but warm Saturday afternoon last at the Ragg.
Dublin had just no answer and from the minute the ball was thrown in, it was quite obvious that the girls from the Premier County were up for this game as they tore into the Dubs with lightning speed, ripped them asunder all over the pitch and showed a hunger and commitment in the tackle that shocked the visitors. The home side served up a lesson for the Dublin players and it was indeed a sore one at that.
While both sides were merely fulfilling a fixture where the outcome would be of no benefit to either side, it certainly didn't look like that to Tipperary as they played as if the championship depended on the result of this game.
Lining out without their injured full back Siobhan Ryan, Sabrina Larkin stepped back from her centre position and this proved to be a wise decision as she worked hard at sweeping and cleaning aided by Mary Ryan in the centre who was prominent throughout and what a terrific season she has had with Tipperary, dependable and committed and towards the end of the game, she proved that she can also step into the forwards.
A terrific performance came from Cora Hennessy and Jill Horan in midfield as they lorded this position throughout. All six forwards were on a spin as they found each other, crossed and tapped over making it all look so easy as the game progressed as they threw in five goals just for measure. The one aspect that stood out here was that Tipp were hardly even trying at times.
The stiff breeze that blew right across the pitch favoured neither side as Tipp went about building up a comfortable lead by the interval, 3.9 to 0.2, having four points in the opening eleven minutes while the visitors had one point which came from a placed ball.
Both sides were wasting possession too, but while Tipp could afford the loss, Dublin certainly couldn't. A little weary of their slow progression up the points ladder, Tipp set up an attack which saw Julie McGrath send in a high ball to the waiting and unmarked Claire Grogan and as she plucked the ball from the air she turned and struck for Tipp's first goal with ten minutes to the break. Then disaster for Dublin as Jill Horan won the puck out, crossed to Joanne Ryan who offloaded to Grogan and she blasted past the Dublin keeper Collette Coady and now the game was well and truly out of Dublin's reach.
Tipp tapped over a further four points while Louise O'Hara kept Dublin in touch. Mairead Luttrell would have settled for a point but Coady blocked her low effort out but the Dublin backs weren’t expecting this and were way too slow to react while Luttrell gathered the rebound to blast back and past the keeper to leave Dublin with a mountain to climb facing into the second half.
While Dublin yielded a point from their early opening attack, Tipp’s answer was a goal at the far end. Julie McGrath took a free which Grogan caught and passing to Noreen Flanagan, she knew what the result would be as Flanagan hit low.
Keeping the visitors out of the game for long periods, Tipp continued to fire over with their final goal coming with eight minutes remaining from Joanne Ryan while Dublin struggled to pick up a further two points.
Had Tipp played in full mode, the score would surely be a lot higher, but would have served no purpose whatsoever but it was a wonderful ending to a year where Tipperary Senior Camogie are in the process of rebuilding.
Emotions from both players and managerial were mixed and when asked if he would be back next year, manager Eoin Brislane replied - “We’ll take a break now and see, there’s a lovely group of girls there and I hope they stay together. We’ll see” and he refused to be drawn further on the matter.
Scorers: Tipperary: Claire Grogan 2.3, Joanne Ryan 1.3, Mairead Luttrell, Noreen Flanagan 1.0 each, Aoife McLoughney, Cora Hennessy 0.4 each, Jill Horan 0.3, Mary Ryan 0.2, Geraldine Kinane, Maria Tynan 0.1 each.
Dublin: Louise O’Hara 0.3 (0.1f), Mairi Moynihan 0.2, Miriam Twomey 0.1.
Tipperary: Rosie Kenneally (Drom/Inch), Julie Kirwan (Moneygall), Sabrina Larkin (Shannon Rovers), Geraldine Stapleton (Silvermines), Maria Tynan (Toomevara), Jill Horan (Captain Cashel), Cora Hennessy (Clonoulty), Noreen Flanagan (Holycross), Mairead Luttrell (Windgap), Geraldine Kinane (Drom/ Inch), Aoife McLoughney (Shannon Rovers), Claire Grogan (Cashel), Joanne Ryan (Drom/Inch). Subs: Paula Ryan (Toomevara) for R. Kenneally, Michelle Kirwan (Moneygall) for J. McGrath, Siobhan McGrath ( Drom/Inch) for M. Luttrell, Alison Lonergan ( Cashel) for C. Grogan.
Dublin: Collette Coady, Sharon Glynn, Elaine O’Meara, Catriona Power, Grainne Quinn, Tara Corrigan, Arlene Cashen, Ciara Burgess, Alison Maguire, Anne Kirwan, Louise O’Hara, Rachel Costello, Aine Power, Amy Murphy, Carolanne Canning. Subs: Aisling Carolan for A. Power, Miriam Twomey for C. Burgess, Aoife Kelly for C. Canning, Joelene Hoary for C. Power.
Player of the match: Mary Ryan (Moneygall).
Referee: Fintan McNamara (Clare).
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Weather for Clonmel
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 4 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South
