Cork U23 camogie side into All-Ireland final
Niamh McNabola, Cork, getting in a shot on goal watched by Lily Fahie, Tipperary. McNabola was one of the players to impress for Cork to see them reach the All-Ireland final. Picture: Dan Linehan
A superb display saw the Cork U23s over power Tipperary as they advanced to the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland camogie final The Munster champions, who had beaten Cork in the provincial final, were no match for a Cork on this occasion and from the throw in Cork were in control.
Dominated all over the pitch Cork were excellent, Amy Sheppard was in scoring form hitting 2-7 all but two points coming from play and with Ava Fitzgerald and Aoife Barrett dominating at the other end of the field they held a tight reign on the Tipperary attack.
Rose Murphy picked out Ciara Golden with a superb ball to finish to the net to get Cork up and running and with Amy Sheppard hitting two points in a row Cork led before Tipp opened their account with a Danielle Ryan and Eva and O’Dwyer free.
Cork responded with an Amy Sheppard goal and an Eve O’Dwyer free was responded to by two Amy Sheppard points from play to leave Cork ahead by seven on 20 minutes.
O’Dwyer added another free but two-in-a-row from Niamh McNabola had Cork ahead by eight before one a piece from Danielle Ryan and Maeve Cunneen had the gap back to six as Tipperary kept in touch but Cork finished the half strongly, with three points in a row from Amy Sheppard to lead at the break 2-9 to 0-6.
Any hope of a Tipp comeback in the second half was quickly extinguished as early as thirty seconds when a Ciara Golden effort rebounded off the post and Amy Sheppard responded finishing to the net.
Eva O’Dwyer reduced the gap with two frees either side of another Niamh MacNabola point, Ava Fitzgerald, Rose Murphy added points before Ava McAuliffe finished to the net.
Grace Moloney grabbed a Tipperary goal however it proved to be their final score of the game as Cork piled on the pressure with points from Orlaith Cahalane and Niamh McNabola. With Ciara Morrison adding Cork’s fifth goal before they hit four points with reply rounding off an impressive Cork victory and a place in the final against Kilkenny next weekend.
A Sheppard 2-7 (0-2 f’s), N Mc Nabola 0-6, A McAuliffe 1-2 (0-2 f’s), C Golden, C Morrison 1-0 each, R Murphy 0-2, A Fitzgerald, O Cahalane (f) 0-1 each.
E O’Dwyer 0-5 (0-4 f’s), G Moloney 1-0, D Ryan 0-2, M Cunneen 0-1.
A Kearney (Blackrock); M De Burca (Carrigtwohill), A Barrett (Aghabullogue), M Murphy (Ballinora); A Fitzgerald (Sarsfields), L Dunlea (Sarsfields), O Cremins (Eire Og); M Condon (Ballinascarthy), A Cashman (Youghal); N MacNabola (Cloughduv ), R Murphy (Ballinora), C Golden (St Finbarr’s), A Sheppard (Cloughduv), A McAuliffe (), O Cahalane (St Finbarr’s).
A O’Riordan (Ballinora) for A Barrett (42 inj); E Duignan (Mallow ) for C Golden (43); A McCarthy (Clonakilty ) for A Cashman (46), C Morrison (Castlelyons ) for A Sheppard (52), E Curtin (Blackrock ) for O Cahalane (55).
M O’Dwyer; E Kelly , K Fitzgerald , L Fahie; P Quirke , M Murphy , K Dowling; E Cunneen, A Fahie; N Cunneen , E O’Dwyer , C Treacy; G Moloney , D Ryan M Cunneen.
S McLoughlin for L Fahie (52 inj), A Bevans for N Cunneen (58), E Spillane, K Dowling (60).
Enda Loughnane, Galway.
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