Cork U23 advance to the All-Ireland camogie final after victory over Tipperary

Cork 3-13 

Tipperary 0-15 

Cork advanced to the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland U23 All-Ireland camogie final on Saturday, but not before a tough battle with Tipperary in Castle Road in a clash where the sides were level on five occasions. 

Goals win games and it was Cork who grabbed them as they hit three in the second half swinging the game in their favour.

Those goals and the excellent performance by corner forward Amy Sheppard, who hit 1-7 of Cork's tally helped get Cork over the line.

In a close opening 30 minutes both sides played defensively, relying on the breaks to engineer scores and it was Tipperary who led by two points, 0-8 to 1-3 at the half time whistle. 

Cork started well with a goal two minutes in after Aine Slattery had denied Rose Murphy’s initial effort, but Claudia Keane was perfectly positioned to finish to the net.

It was to be ten minutes again before Cork were on the score board and in between Tipperary got themselves back on level with points from Danielle Ryan, Anna Fahie and Aoife Dwyer. 

Cork did have a goal attempt hit the post and bounce back into play. but it was the excellent of Aine Slattery that kept them at bay, as she made two superb saves before Rose Murphy edged Cork in front with a point. 

Danielle Ryan and Amy Sheppard swapped points, but Tipperary were winning possession and putting the Cork defence under a lot of pressure.

They had three points without reply with Danielle Ryan, Hannah Butler, and Aoife Dwyer on target. 

Aine Slattery denied Cork once again with an excellent save and with the side's swapping points, Tipperary led by two at the interval.

On the restart, Cork were quickly back on level terms as Amy Sheppard and Eimear Duigan hit over points.

The excellent Aoife Dwyer had one back for Tipperary, but Cork were now playing with a lot more confidence and driving the ball fast into their forwards, who were beginning to get the upper hand on the Tipperary defence. 

Ava Fitzgerald and Niamh McNabola had Cork two in front and the game was about to turn in Cork's favour.

Amy Sheppard, won possession on the run and with lightning speed left her marker in her wake before finished superbly to the net.

Three minutes later, Rose Murphy added Cork's third goal to put nine points between the sides.

Cork were now in the driving seat and with 15 minutes to go Tipperary were playing catch up.

Three points in a row narrowed the gap, but Cork responded with two of their own after Aoife Slattery had again denied them another goal with a point blank save. 

As the side's swapped points, Amy Sheppard and Ava Fitzgerald kept the scoreboard ticking over for Cork with Aoife Dwyer adding two for Tipperary.

But, Cork had done enough with a superb second half display to advance to the All-Ireland final on Saturday, July 12th.

Scorers for Cork: A Sheppard 1-7 (0—2 f’s, 0-2 45), R Murphy 1-1, A Fitzgerald 0-3, C Keane 1-0, N McNabola , E Duignan 0-1.

Tipperary: A O Dwyer 0-8 (0-5f), D Ryan 0-4, A Fahie, H Butler , K Ferncombe 0-1 each.

Cork: C Buckley (Inniscarra); S Hurley (Sarsfields), C Kingston(Newcestown), M De Burca (Carrigtwohill); M Ring (Aghabullogue), D O’ Brien(Enniskeane)(c), A Cashman (Youghal); A Fitzgerald (Sarsfields), E Duignan (Mallow); I Sheehan (Eire Og ), R Murphy (Ballinora), ),N Mc Nabola (Cloughduv); A Sheppard Cloughduv) C Keane (Inniscarra), M Condon( Ballinascarthy).

Subs: E Curtin for C Keane (53), E Wiggington- Barrett for N Mc Nabola (53), E Sheehan for M Ring (55), E O’ Donoghue for R Murphy (56).

Tipperary : A Slattery; L Ryan, M Connolly, L Fahie; A Mellerick, M Murphy, C Guinan; O O’ Brien, G Moloney; D Ryan, K Ferncombe, A Fahie; A Fitzgerald, A Dwyer, H Butler.

Subs: C Mc Cormack for A Mellerick (44), C Gleeson for A Fahie (49), P Quirke for G Moloney (49), A O’ Kelly for K Ferncomb(53).

Referee: Brian Kearney (Kildare).