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Tipperary celebrate their win with supporter Amy Lillis. Lorraine O’Sullivan/INPHO

Grace the hero as Tipperary claim first league title

Meanwhile, Kildare stormed to Division 3 glory on Saturday afternoon.

Tipperary 0-14

Kilkenny 0-8

JENNY GRACE WAS named player of the match as Tipperary got the better of the local derby with Kilkenny to claim the county’s first Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League Division 2 title.

Grace scored eight points, seven of which came from frees, and in a game of this nature, such a contribution was always going to be telling.

But it was a good team effort by Bill Mullaney’s troops, and a particularly momentous occasion for Joanne Ryan, the former All-Star and three-time All-Ireland Senior Championship winner, who was captain when Tipperary last garnered both top-tier national crowns.

Ryan contributed to the cause off the bench to emphasise the group effort and Tipp just found it a little easier to score, with Kilkenny losing free-taker Katie Nolan early on to injury. Kelly Hamilton was a threat for the Noresiders but in skipper Sabrina Larkin, Shauna Quirke, Andrea Loughnane and of course Grace, Tipp had more of the game’s best performers.

The match began at a high tempo, Nolan opening the scoring for Kilkenny and then Tipp goalie, Sarah Quigley saving from Caoimhe Dowling. Nolan and Kelly Hamilton added points and the black and amber were flying, three points up.

Nolan had to depart soon after though and Kilkenny suffered in the placed-ball department thereafter. In contrast, Grace was unerring, slotting three frees to complement a Loughnane score from play and now Tipp were ahead.

Niamh Treacy added a prodigious score and Grace a couple more, including one from play, and it was double scores, 0-8 to 0-4 at half time.

Katie Nolan and Shauna Quirke Kilkenny's Katie Nolan and Shauna Quirke of Tipperary in action. Lorraine O’Sullivan / INPHO Lorraine O’Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO

Grace continued to punish Kilkenny’s indiscretions from a variety of distances and with Loughnane also on target, the margin had grown to seven within five minutes of the resumption.

Hamilton provided the chief resistance with a brace of points either side of a shot at goal that was once again repelled by Quigley.

Urged on by joint managers Áine Fahey and John Scott, Kilkenny continued to battle but they wasted a number of good scoring chances. Quirke provided a telling response for Tipp, assisting the always-threatening Loughnane and Ciara McKeogh for vital points that settled the nerves in the closing stages.

Meanwhile, Caoimhe Shiels hit Limerick for two goals and Siobhán Hurley contributed eight points as Kildare garnered the Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Leagues Division 3 title at the St Rynagh’s grounds in Banagher. 

Scorers for Tipperary: J Grace 0-8(7fs); A Loughnane 0-4; N Treacy, C McKeogh 0-1 each.

Scorers for Kilkenny: K Hamilton 0-4(3fs), K Nolan 0-2(fs); C Pelan, L Green (f) 0-1 each.

TIPPERARY: S Quigley, B Ryan, C Brennan, C Ryan, C Stakelum, S Larkin, E Carey, S Quirke, N Treacy, C McKeogh, J Grace, A O’Dwyer, S Delaney, A Loughnane, N Loughnane. Subs: J Ryan for N Loughnane (41), S Meagher for Carey (56), A McLoughney for O’Dwyer (57).

KILKENNY: A Walsh, N Carter, H Scott, A O’Gorman, N Leahy, A Prendergast, L Murphy, L Green, M O’Connell, C Phelan, L Fitzpatrick, K Nolan, C Lyng, K Hamilton, C Dowling. Subs: E Murphy for Nolan inj (6), M Doheny for Dowling (45), C Nolan for Fitzpatrick (58).

Referee: Philip McDonald (Cavan).

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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
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    May 18th 2015, 2:32 PM

    Even when on the bench he didn’t get game time. The coach doesn’t like or trust him. Saturday once again showed just how wrong O’connor has been all season

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    Mute Colin Webber
    Favourite Colin Webber
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    May 18th 2015, 6:24 PM

    O’Connor is just all wrong for Leinster.

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    Mute Mark Lawlor
    Favourite Mark Lawlor
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    May 18th 2015, 2:31 PM

    He has a very big chance next season with Leinster during the World Cup, midfield won’t be as competitive so he should get a good run of matches.

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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
    Favourite Chris Mcdonnell
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    May 18th 2015, 6:56 PM

    Mark if Darcy doesn’t make the World Cup squad, he’ll play 12 with t’eo at 13. Then Madigan and sexton will be back so the midfield won’t be as easy to get into as you may think

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    Mute David Davidson
    Favourite David Davidson
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    May 18th 2015, 4:27 PM

    That pop pass from O’Brien

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    Mute Irish Underage Rugby
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    May 18th 2015, 2:54 PM

    Battle between him and Madigan for the 12 jersey next season.

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    Mute Cian Walker
    Favourite Cian Walker
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    May 19th 2015, 4:02 AM

    It’s always to easy to see who coaches ‘just like/don’t like’. When Gopperth played badly it was ignored whereas when Madigan played mediocre or even if Reid played well decisions went against them.

    It creates such a poisonous culture as some players start to feel entitled to spots and others feel it doesn’t matter how well they play they won’t get picked. Cody and Fergusson were masters at disregarding players identities and judging on match performance alone. MOC is such a stink manager.

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