Cork Camogie: Minors fall short in comeback against Tipp

Tipperary 1-14 Cork 2-9 

Cork lost to Tipperary in their opening round of the Electric Ireland Minor Championship at MIC, Thurles.

Tipperary opened up an eight-point advantage 10 minutes into the second half but were pegged back by the Munster champions, who battled hard but fell just short.

Cork were quick off the mark with two early points, Ciara Hayes slotting over from play with Lexi Manley converting a free. Tipperary responded with two points in a row, Abbie Horgan converting free before Alice Butler had the sides on level five minutes in.

Again the sides swapped points with play moving quickly from end to end. Horgan edged Tipp back in front but Manley replied with a free. Clare Murphy before Horgan traded points to leave it 0-4 each at the end of the opening quarter.

The hosts hit a purple patch as they went three in front with points from Alice Butler, Emma Bonner and Horgan finding the range. Cork responded through Clare Murphy and Lea Meillouin but Evanne Gleeson's effort gave Tipperary a 0-8 to 0-6 lead at the break.

Crucially, the Premier turned around with the aid of the wind and went four points in front inside six minutes of the restart. Eva Ralph had a point from play with Horgan very accurate from placed balls.

Putting the Cork defence under pressure, Tipp had the game’s opening goal seven minutes into the half with Isabelle Kingston extending their lead to seven.

Horgan extended their lead with a point before Cork upped the pace and grabbed their opening goal as Lexi Manley hit the net. Points from Caoilainn Ryan and Leah Hannigan narrowed the gap to three but with Horgan nailed a difficult free followed by an Ailbhe Treacy effort to leave the margin at five with 12 minutes left.

Cork battled back and with a Hannigan goal and with nine minutes remaining. With just two points between the sides the game was very much in the balance.

Continuing to press Cork had it down to a one-point game on 53 minutes with a Murphy point. Tipperary won a free with three minutes remaining the reliable Horgan converted her eighth free which left Cork chasing a goal to win.

Cork pressed to the final whistle but the Tipperary defence held.

Scorers for Tipperary: A Horgan 0-8 f’, I Kingston 1-0, A Butler 0-2, E Bonner, E Ralph, E Gleeson A Treacy 0-1 each.

Cork: L Manley 1-2 (0-2 f), L Hannigan 1-1, C Murphy 0-3, C Hayes, C Ryan, L Meillouin 0-1 each.

TIPPERARY: E O'Donnell; E Ryan, K Nevin, E Frend; J Shanahan, C Cahill, E Gleeson; E Bonner, E Ralph; A Butler, A Treacy; G Stapleton, A Horgan, I Kingston, K Rossiter.

Subs: E Duffy for K Rossiter (21), D Ryan for G Stapleton (45), G Cleary for I Kingston (56).

CORK: A Collins (Sarsfields); S Donohue (Blarney), A Ashman (Killeagh), T O'Neill (Fr O’ Neill’s); C Roche (Éire Óg), C O'Donnell (Sliabh Rua); M Lombard (Ballinhassig, c); C Ryan (Newtownshandrum); C Hayes (St Catherine’s); O Troy (Newtownshandrum), L Manley (Aghabullogue), C Harte (Barryroe); L Meillouin (Inniscarra), C Murphy (Éire Óg), L Hannigan (Ballincollig).

Subs: E Barrett (Aghabullogue) for C Roche (33), B Cunniffe (Ballincollig) for O Troy (38), E Healy (Éire Óg) for L Meillouin (52).
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