Cork far too strong for Tipperary in U23 camogie championship 

Tipperary 0-8 Cork 3-19

Cork made it two from two in the round robin stages of the Glen Dimplex U23 camogie championship after a comfortable win over Tipperary at the Ragg on Saturday.

From start to finish Cork were by far the better side and never looked in any danger of losing.

They were far too strong for their opponents who couldn’t live with the pace of Cork, backed up by some quality performances. Daire O’Brien anchored the defence, with Millie Condon in control at midfield in front of her.

Up front the likes of Orlaith Mullins, Amy Sheppard, Niamh McNabola and Claudia Keane were a constant threat. By half time the Rebels were well in front but three second-half goals made sure there was no way back for Tipp.

Aoife Dwyer opened the scoring for Tipp with Rose Murphy replying for Cork, before the Rebels started to use the wind to their full advantage.

A free from Sheppard put Cork in front, with McNabola adding their third with five minutes gone.

Cork had their first goal chance two minutes later when Mullins brushed past several defenders but Aine Slattery was quick off her line to deny her a goal.

Isobel Sheehan and Sheppard were on target again for Cork as they stretched their lead to 0-5 to 0-1 after 10 minutes.

Grace Moloney pulled a point back for the home side, before Mullins scored Cork’s sixth.

A free from Dwyer reduced the gap, but then Cork hit six without reply to move further ahead.

McNabola got her second, with Sheppard adding two frees, to make it 0-9 to 0-3.

Mullins was on target again, with a superb pass from Condon setting up Isobel Sheehan for Cork’s 11th point.

Sheppard added another from a free, with Dwyer replying late on as Cork led by 0-12 to 0-4 at half time.

Four minutes into the second half Cork got the first of their goals, when Keane scored, having just pointed beforehand.

Murphy added two more, before another brilliant pass from Condon found Sheehan. She was fouled by the keeper and Sheppard slotted home the resulting penalty, to make it 2-16 to 0-4.

Dwyer replied with a few frees for Tipp, before Sheppard got Cork’s third goal to round off a comprehensive win for the Rebels.

They play Galway in their next round-robin game next weekend.

Scorers for Tipperary: A Dwyer 0-5 f, G Moloney, D Ryan, C Shelly 0-1 each.

Cork: A Sheppard 2-5 (1-0 pen, 0-5 f), D Ryan 1-2, O Mullins 0-4 (0-2 f), R Murphy, I Sheehan 0-3 each, N McNabola 0-2.

TIPPERARY: A Slattery; L Ryan, M Connolly, P Quirke; E Kelly, M Murphy, C Gleeson; L Fahie, O O’Brien; C Guinan, K Ferncombe, A Dwyer; G Moloney, D Ryan, H Butler.

Subs: E Dolan for L Fahie (30), A Fahie for E Kelly (ht), C McCormack for M Murphy (40), C Shelly for H Butler (43), A Fitzgerald for C Gleeson (53).

CORK: C Buckley; S Hurley, C Kingston, M De Burca; E Duignan, D O’Brien, A Cashman; M Condon, R Murphy; I Sheehan, O Mullins, N McNabola; A Sheppard, C Keane, T McCarthy.

Subs: E Curtin for T McCarthy (43), N O’Regan for A Sheppard (52), E O’Donoghue for I Sheehan, A McCarthy for N McNabola (both 57), E Wigginton Barrett C Keane (59).

Referee: Gavin Donegan, Dublin.