Tipp too strong for Cork in U16 A Munster camogie final
Cork's Éabha Lynch clears from Tipperary's Molly Jones during the U16 A Munster camogie final at Castle Road. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Disappointment for Cork as they lost out to Tipperary in the Munster U16 A championship final at Castle Road on Saturday.
The damage was done in the first half and by the break Tipp were 1-10 to 0-2 in front and it was always going to be difficult for the Rebels to come back from there.
To their credit they never gave up and kept fighting to the bitter end, but on the day, they were simply beaten by a better side.
Tipp were outstanding all through and defensively gave the Cork forwards little or no room.
Up front Lily Ivors was a handful but player of the game by a mile was Maria Groome.
The half-forward was superb from start to finish and a constant threat to the Cork defence. She finished with 2-2 but it wasn’t just her scoring that caused the home side problems.
Her ability to run with the ball and take on defenders made her a handful and were in not for a number of quality saves from Cork keeper Kayleigh Murphy, Groome’s tally could have been higher.
Ivors opened the scoring from a free, with Saili O’Connor and Olivia Looby adding to Tipp’s tally before Isabelle O’Callaghan got Cork off the mark from a free.
Ivors and Groome increased Tipp’s lead, to make it 0-6 to 0-1 after 20 minutes. Three minutes later and Groome had the first of her goals, giving Murphy no chance of saving.
Ivors added two more points to make it 1-8 to 0-1 as half-time approached. Cork’s only goal chance came when Orla O’Brien’s effort was well saved by Sinead Delaney.
Ivors hit two more, with O’Callaghan replying from a free to see Tipp lead by 1-10 to 0-2 at half-time.
Tipp had another goal chance at the start of the second half, this time Murphy denying Melanie Flannery.
Ivors and Lauren McAuliffe exchanged points, before Groome got Tipp’s second goal, to make it 2-12 to 0-3 and with it any chance of a Cork comeback.
To be fair they tried, with Alanah Murphy pulling a goal back and points from O’Callaghan and Simone Fitzgerald reducing the deficit, 2-13 to 1-5.
Eabha Lynch got a second goal for Cork late on but it was no more than a consolation score as Tipp ran out deserving winners.
Cork will now have to regroup ahead of their All-Ireland clash with Galway in two weeks time.
M Groome 2-2, L Ivors 0-9 (7f), S O’Connor, O Looby, L Lee, A O’Donnell 0-1 each.
A Murphy, E Lynch 1-0 each, I O’Callaghan 0-4 (4f), L McAuliffe (f), S Fitzgerald 0-1 each.
S Delaney; G Troy K Creedon, T Maher; K Duffy, E Ahern, T Corbett; C Kennedy, A O’Donnell; M Flannery, M Jones, M Groome; O Looby, S O’Connor, L Ivors.
LA Cleary for M Jones, L Lee for M Flannery (both 39), M Lonergan for S O’Connor (47), R O’Connor for K Duffy, A Cully for E Ahern (both 53), A Ryan for O Looby, M Kennedy for L Ivors, L Ryan for G Troy (all 55).
K Murphy (Sliabh Rua); E Dennehy (Ballinhassig), A McCarthy (Blarney), L Sheehan (St Finbarr’s); Kate O’Mahoney (Kilbrittain/Timoleague), E Lynch (Blarney), L Daly (Inniscarra); E Rath (Sliabh Rua), S Carey Ni Loingsigh (Aghabullogue); O O’Brien (Cloughduv), L McAuliffe (Newtownshandrum), A Coughlan (Newtownshandrum); C Walsh (Killeagh), C Leahy (Blarney), I O’Callaghan (Cloughduv).
S Gilmore (Clonakilty) for A Coughlan, A Byerley (Clonakilty) for C Leahy, A Keane (Dungourney) for L Sheehan (all 29), A Murphy (Aghabullogue) for O O’Brien (ht), A (Sarsfields) Ryan for L Daly (34), A Kenneally (Brian Dillons) for L McAuliffe (43), S Fitzgerald (St Catherine’s) for C Walsh (50), E Cafferkey (St Vincent’s) for K O’Mahoney (55).
Philip Dee, Limerick.
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