Tipperary U16s continue to impress with latest victory coming against Cork last weekend

All Ireland U16 Camogie Championship 

Tipperary 3-14

Cork 1-12

Tipperary beat Cork in the last group game of the under 16A All Ireland Camogie Championship on Sunday last in the Ragg in impressive fashion.

Even though both teams had already secured qualification to next Saturday's All Ireland semi-finals, this match was of a high standard with excellent scores taken on an immaculate surface in the Ragg.

Tipp made four changes to the starting team from the Limerick match with Izzy Carr, Eimear Troy, Maeve Cuneen, and Sinéad O’Carroll coming in.

With 15 minutes played Tipp led by a point 1-3 to 1-2. Lucy O'Brien opened the scoring with a scorching run down her own right hand side and fired over the black spot at full speed. 

The hard working Danielle Butler got a sweet over the shoulder point to add to a Caoimhe Stakelum point from play. Lucy O’Brien took off on another piercing run, this time going in across the large square and setting up the waiting Eimear Troy to finish the pass expertly to the net. 

The Cork girls were keeping the scoreboard ticking over also with some really well taken scores, none better than their goal from Jessica Murphy. She made a super untracked run out the field to call for and gather an incoming free, rounded her marker and buried the ball in the Tipp net. 

Ava Gaynor intercepted a pass at the other end and split the posts on this occasion after being unlucky with a couple of earlier shots. The lively Elana McGrath got a sweet point from play and Caoimhe Stakelum added two frees to leave the half time score Tipp 2-7, Cork 1-6. 

Isobelle O’Donnell and Maeve Cuneen were enforced changes during the first half with Clodagh Grimes and Elana McGrath coming on.

The team management made three more changes during the break with Ola Wasylink, Lucy Heffernan and Doireann Ryan coming in to the team instead of Sarah Quinlan, Danielle Butler and Caoimhe Stakelum.

Tipperary's rhythm didn't change and they drove on again in the second half, none more so than Ava Gaynor who tormented the Cork backs with her direct running down through the centre of their defence, scoring one point and setting up others and winning some frees, one of which she converted herself. 

Three more subs were introduced with Caoimhe Troy, Isobelle Kingston and Zara Casey introduced for Ava Gaynor, Leanna Coppinger and Lucy O’Brien  but not before Lucy got another point and helped herself to another goal on the third attempt after her initial shot and follow up were saved by the Cork goalkeeper. 

Elana McGrath converted two more fine points and Doireann Ryan cleverly scooped the ball over the bar after another one of her pacey runs at the Cork goal. Lucy Heffernan also got on the scoresheet before the match finished with a point from play. 

Tipperary also had great displays from some of their backs with Leanna Coppinger, Sarah McLoughlin, Izzy Carr and Clodagh Grimes all playing some superb camogie. Cork more than played their part and some of their forward play in particular was excellent.

This exciting Tipperary team are playing Galway this Saturday July 15th at 2pm in Mallow in the All Ireland semi final.

Tipperary: Sarah Quinlan; Leanna Coppinger, Molly Loughnane, Sarah McLoughlin; Izzy Carr, Isobelle O’Donnell, Maeve Cunneen; Sinead O’Carroll, Anna O’Brien; Lucy O’Brien (2-2), Ava Gaynor (0-3, 0-1f) Sophie Lee; Eimear Troy (1-0) Danielle Butler (0-1), Caoimhe Stakelum (0-3, 0-1f).

Subs used: Clodagh Grimes; Elana McGrath (0-3); Ola Wasylink; Lucy Heffernan (0-1), Doireann Ryan (0-1), Caoimhe Troy; Isobelle Kingston, and Zara Casey.

Cork:  Anna Kearney; Eimear O’Callaghan, Avril Cagney, Laoise Ahearn; Millie Lombard, Sophie Pomeroy, Grainne O’Neill; Nikki Hosford (0-2f), Lily O’Shea; Eavan Cotter, Kate McEntee (0-3), Laura Walsh; Jessica Murphy (1-1), Kate O’Sullivan, Natalie Golka (0-1).

Subs used: Ciara Kelleher (0-2, 0-1f); Catherine Murphy (0-1); Ciara Murphy (0-1f); Tara Goulding (0-1).