Liberty Insurance Senior Camogie Championship Quarter Final – Galway 2-19 Tipperary 0-9

Galway defeated Tipperary by 2-19 to 0-9 in the Liberty Insurance Senior Camogie Championship Quarter Final on Saturday August 3rd at O’Moore Park Portlaoise.

Tipperary were smarter off the mark and led three times inside the opening eight minutes thanks to Nicole Walsh (twice) and Noreen Flanagan. Galway gradually imposed themselves with three points from Niamh McGrath and a goal on the half-hour by player of the match, Ailish O’Reilly giving the westerners a 1-11 to 0-5 half-time advantage. McGrath and Molly Dunne added points at the change of ends and when O’Reilly blasted to the Tipperary net for her second goal, it was game over.

Match Preview

Galway v Tipperary, O’Moore Park, 3.30pm

Galway were in the hugely competitive five-team Group 1 that also included Wexford, league semi-finalists Clare and senior newcomers Derry but was completely dominated by Kilkenny. They crossed swords with the Noresiders in the first round six weeks ago and despite a much improved second half effort, just failed by two points to peg them back.

Tony Ward’s charges displayed their genuine championship credentials from thereon though, coming out on top by two points against Wexford in what most have been a very satisfying result given the amount of setbacks they have suffered at the Yellowbellies’ hands over the years.

They followed that up with perhaps their most complete performance to date in a 3-12 to 1-12 win over a highly-considered Clare, and with Derry their last victims, finished a comfortable second to earn a tie against the third team in Group 2.

That proved to be Tipperary, who made it through despite a largely uninspiring campaign. A largely youthful outfit that badly missed the guile and experience of injured former All-Ireland winner Joanne Ryan, it was always going to be difficult.

Cork were much too strong in their opening tie and though more competitive against Offaly, they never looked likely to be victorious.

That left their last game against Dublin as a straight shootout for a quarter-final spot. With Nicole Walshe, Ereena and Sarah Fryday, and the outstanding Jill Horan in their ranks, they had too much firepower for the Metropolitans, having 10 points in hand at the final whistle.

Galway have been operating at a completely different level however, appearing in an All-Ireland semi-final and two finals in the past three seasons. They are without the retired Veronica Curtin, and Aislinn Connolly, who has taken the year off, but can still call on Therése Maher, Lorraine Ryan, Ann Marie Hayes and goal machine Brenda Hanney, which should ensure their advance to the penultimate stages once more.

GALWAY: S Earner; S Coen, S Dervan, H Cooney; T Manton, T Maher, L Ryan; N Kilkenny, M Dunne; E Haverty, N McGrath, E Kilkelly; B Hanney, AM Hayes, A O’Reilly.

TIPPERARY: R Burke; T Ryan, J Kirwin, S Larkin; G Grace, C Devane, J Bourke; J Horan, M Teehan; S Fryday, C Kennedy, N Flanagan; A Kennedy, T Kennedy, N Walshe.