Cork knocked out of Munster camogie championship by Tipperary

Tipperary 1-18 Cork 2-9

Disappointment for Cork as they lost out to Tipperary in their Munster senior camogie championship quarter-final clash at FBD Semple Stadium on Sunday.

Overall Tipp were the better side and were deserving winners on the day, despite the best efforts of the likes of Laura Hayes, Libby Coppinger, Ava Fitzgerald and Meabh Murphy in particular.

The loss now means that Cork won’t have a competitive game until June when their All-Ireland campaign starts away to Galway, as the Munster championship is a knock-out competition.

Grace O’Brien opened the scoring for Tipp just 30 seconds in before Orlaith Cahalane set up Cork’s first attack, which was cleared.

Caoimhe Stakelum got Tipp’s second point as they were quicker to settle, to make it 0-2 to no score after four minutes.

Orlaith Cremin burst forward for Cork, but again the Tipp defence quelled the danger.

O’Brien added another, with Kate Ralph also on target as Tipp led by 0-4 to no score with seven minutes gone.

Sorcha McCartan got Cork off the mark two minutes later, with Karin Blair replying at the other end.

Saoirse McCarthy got Cork’s second point and she was on target again from a free, to make it 0-5 to 0-3 after 13 minutes.

Eimear McGrath pushed Tipp further ahead as they were enjoying the better of the opening exchanges as Cork had yet to settle.

Clodagh McIntyre pushed Tipp further ahead as Cork were finding it hard to get out of their own half.

Karen Kennedy added another before Orlaith Cahalane replied for Cork, to make it 0-8 to 0-4 after 25 minutes.

A brilliant turnover by McCartan put Cahalane through on goal and she made no mistake to put Cork back in contention as the made it 1-4 to 0-9.

The tips of Mairead Eviston’s fingers denied Cork a second goal just before half time.

A ball across from Cahalane to Niamh McNabola was intercepted by Eviston at full stretch to deny Cork the chance of a second green flag.

McNabola pointed from distance just before the half time whistle to see Cork trail by 1-5 to 0-10 at the break.

McCarthy got the opening score of the second half, from a free, to put only one between the sides.

After 36 minutes the Rebels were back on level terms, when McCarthy scored from another free.

Cork took the lead for the first time in the 39th minute when McCarthy pointed from another free, to make it 1-8 to 0-10.

Eimer Heffernan, not long on as a sub, equalised for Tipp with McGrath putting them back in front from a long distance free.

Laura Hayes had the sides level before another free from McGrath, somewhat a harsh decision, put Tipp back in front.

Cork had another goal chance when McCartan was played in, but she was hooked just as she was about to strike.

McGrath hit two more from frees, before she struck the killer blow with two minutes left.

O’Brien played her in on goal and she gave Amy Lee no chance of saving, to make it 1-15 to 1-9.

Hayes had a chance for Cork but Laura Leenane saved superbly to deny her.

A late free from Stakelum rounded off the scoring as Tipp ran out deserving winners on the day and now face Limerick in the semi-final next weekend at Páirc Ui Chaoimh.

Scorers for Cork: O Cahalane 1-1, S McCarthy 0-5 (0-4 f), K McCarthy 1-0, S McCartan, N McNabola, L Hayes 0-1 each.

Tipperary: E McGrath 1-4 (3f), G O’Brien 0-3, C Stakelum (1f), K Ralph, E Heffernan, J Kelly, K Blair 0-2 each, C McIntyre 0-1 each.

CORK: A Lee; M Murphy, L Coppinger, M Cahalane; I O’Regan, L Hayes, A Fitzgerald; M Condon, O Cremin; E Murphy, O Cahalane, S McCarthy; H Ryan, S McCartan, A McAuliffe.

Subs: N McNabola for E Murphy (23), K McCarthy for O Cremin (44), C O’Callaghan for A McAuliffe (52), R Harty for H Ryan (56).

TIPPERARY: L Leenane; A Quinlisk, M Eviston, E Loughman; K Blair, C Guinan, C McCarthy; K Kennedy, K Ralph; A Dwyer, R Howard, C McIntyre; C Stakelum, E McGrath, G O’Brien.

Subs: C Maher for C Guinan (ht), E Heffernan for A Dwyer (39), L Purcell for K Ralph (52), N Treacy for R Howard (56), J Kelly for E McGrath (60).

Referee: Donnacha O’Callaghan, Limerick.