TIPPERARY HAVE QUALIFIED for the Division 1 semi-finals of the National Camogie League by virtue of their nine-point win over Dublin in The Ragg and Clare’s 15-point reverse at the hands of a thriving Galway at the Clooney GAA grounds.
They will play Kilkenny in the last four but defending champions Galway, who topped Group 1 with five straight wins, have to wait to find out who their opponents will be as All-Ireland victors Cork must take on Limerick in a play-off next Sunday to determine the runners-up position in a remarkably competitive Group 2.
It has been a long time since the once all-powerful Premier County sat at the top table of camogie, their last national title coming 12 years ago, when they won the All-Ireland to complete a famous league and championship double. It is too early to say whether or not that spell in the wilderness is coming to an end but the underage work of recent seasons is clearly beginning to bear fruit.
The first half was very evenly contested and the sides were separated only by a goal from Jenny Grace, going in at the break on 1-5 to 0-5.
It was notable though that Grace was unerring in punishing the indiscipline of Dublin defenders from placed balls and she finished with 1-8 of the Tipperary tally in their 2-12 to 1-6 success, five of those points coming from frees.
Orla Beagan did score a goal following a mix-up in the home defence in the 42nd minute to give the visitors some hope but it was the only real slip from the excellent Tipp back division.
Meanwhile, Mairead Teehan drove them on from midfield in very difficult weather conditions and when substitute Róisín Howard drove to the net with five minutes remaining, the result was secured.
Clare won the first two games of their campaign but defeat to Tipperary has sparked a horror run of three defeats, climaxing in the 4-11 to 1-5 reverse at the hands of Galway.
Aoife Donoghue, Caitriona Murphy, Ailish O’Reilly and Shauna Healy raised green flags for Ollie Bergin’s team, while Aoife Callanan slotted six points. As has become customary, Chloe Morey offered the only real threat for Clare as she scored all bar one of the Bannerwomen’s points.
A victory would have put Limerick through as group winners at Kilkenny’s expense and indeed, had they lost by even one point less, they would have progressed as runners-up, as the three teams finished on nine points each. Ann Downey’s outfit advance as table-toppers by virtue of a vastly superior score difference of +35 points, with the other too deadlocked on +20 points each.
Certainly, Niamh Mulcahy couldn’t have done much more for the Shannonsiders, scoring 12 points in the 2-12 to 0-14 defeat but it was Ann Dalton that provided the most significant contribution, scoring 2-2 to edge the Noresiders home in Bruff.
Elsewhere, Waterford secured their first win in the top tier as they made the lengthy journey to Owenbeg pay with a 3-12 to 2-9 win over Derry. It was certainly a memorable day for the Déise women, whose game was the first of a National League double-header, with the Oak Leaf County’s senior footballers also taking on Meath.
The campaign finished on a high for Offaly too as they saw off Wexford in St Brendan’s Park by 1-12 to 0-13. Michaela Morkan shot seven points for the hosts while Arlene Watkins pounced for a goal.
In Division 2, Meath will play Carlow and Kildare will take on Galway in the semi-finals, while in Division 3, Armagh will take on Dublin and Kerry will play Roscommon.
Results
Division 1
Group 1
Clare 1-5 Galway 4-11
Offaly 1-12 Wexford 0-13
Tipperary 2-12 Dublin 1-6
Group 2
Derry 2-9 Waterford 3-12
Limerick 0-14 Kilkenny 2-12
Division 2
Group 1
Galway 1-10 Cork 1-12
Group 2
Laois 0-9 Kilkenny 1-2
Kildare 6-17 Down 1-5
Wexford 0-4 Carlow 6-14
Division 3
Cavan 0-0 Kerry 8-15
Roscommon 1-6 Dublin 0-1
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Fine player, only a matter of time until united ruin him
@Buzz O Sullivan: you must have missed the start of the season with him so?
@Buzz O Sullivan:
Should have known you were a Liverpool fan. Manchester United are the reason Daniel James is now playing in the Premier League, He scored 3 goals already
@Just Some Guy: as I said only a matter of time…
@Buzz O Sullivan: here mate, this is not about United or Liverpool it is about a good young player scoring a good goal. Unbelievable how small minded fools bring it back to premier league football rivalry. Giggs is taking risks and playing young lads, more power to him.
@Seagoat returns: I bleed the red of Liverpool, everything in my life revolves around it. Ynwa
@Buzz O Sullivan: What a sad life that must be.
@Buzz O Sullivan: I’d hope that that’s sarcasm. Can’t understand how anyone could ‘bleed’ any pl side in this day and age given the flippant nature of mercenary players and management.
I doubted Daniel James when he first joined Manchester United but he has proved me wrong. Keep up the good work for club and country
He has been the only positive part of Uniteds start to the season for me.
Daniel James looks like a great young player. He only seems to score quality goals. Let’s hope one or two of our young lads in the 21s become as good as James, Wilson and ampadu
Welsh out in force
Add Jadon Sancho and Declan Rice to that Utd team and they’d suddenly be feared again