2023 VERY National Camogie Division 1: Round 1

Galway v Tipperary
Date: 18 Feb, 2pm
Venue: Tipperary Camogie Grounds, The Ragg, Co Tipperary (Map)
Referee: Andy Larkin

FT: Galway 1-09 Tipperary 4-09

SCORERS: Carrie Dolan 1-4 (1-2F), Aine Keane 0-1, Niamh McPeake 0-1, Ailish O’Reilly 0-3 (0-3F)

PROFILES: View senior team profiles

MATCH PHOTOS

MATCH REPORT

The 2021 League Champions, Galway didn’t get off to the dream start that they would have liked in the Very Ireland Division 1A opening league game against Tipperary. Over the past two years, there has only been a point between the sides in the same encounter. 3 first half goals for Tipperary proved the difference in the end between the sides at the end. Galway did line out with a lot of new names in the senior setup both on the pitch and bench with a lot of the 2022 All Ireland winning Intermediate winners togging out today with 7 players making their senior debut by the end of the game today.

It was Tipperary who started the brightest. Karen Kennedy went on a blistering run from midfield, laying off the ball to Courtney Ryan, Ryan laid off the return pass to Kennedy who continued her run and blasted the ball past Fiona Ryan in the Galway net. 2 minutes later, there seemed to be a miscommunication on the Tipperary goal line and a long free in from Carrie Dolan ended up in the back of the Tipperary net. Tipperary didn’t drop their heads and responded with the next 4 points through Eimear McGrath (0-3F) to leave Tipperary 1-3 to 1-0 ahead at the halfway point of the half. Dolan got Galway’s first score in 13 minutes when she slotted over Galway’s first score from play. McGrath replied with her 5th score of a day with a point through a free 4 minutes later while a wayward pass from Emma Helebert was intercepted by the Tipperary with Grace O’Brien laying off the ball to Rosin Howard and Howard made no mistake in sticking the ball in the back of the Galway net for their second major of the day. Dolan and McGrath exchanged frees on the 27th and 29th minutes. Aine Keane became Galway’s second scorer of the day when she pointed a fantastic point from the sideline. A cross field ball across the square was Teresa Ryan was deflected out by Ryan but unfortunately in fell into the path of the oncoming Courtney Ryan who made no mistake in ensuring the ball ended up in the Galway net to leave it Tipperary 3-6 Galway 1-3 heading into the half time break.

Galway needed a massive second half and they had the assistance of the wind. Dolan opened the scoring for Galway in the opening minute with a point through a free. Caoimhe Maher slotted over Tipperary’s opening score of the half on the 37th minute with a well taken point from play. Niamh McPeake got Galway’s first score in 10 minutes when she got her first point of the game. Galway really needed to start putting scores on the board but they really struggled to get past the solid Tipperary defence that kept hunting in packs. Maher and Dolan exchanged scores on the 49 th and 50 th minutes to leave it Tipperary 3-9 Galway 1-6 with 10 minutes to go. Credit must go to Caoimhe Bourke, who was solid under the high ball for Tipperary as Galway kept dropping the ball short Ito the Tipperary keepers hand. Ailish O’Reilly slotted over a free for Galway on the 52nd minute while goal hungry Tipperary got their 4th goal of the day through Anna Fahy after some poor defending by Galway. O’Reilly added two 45’s before the end of the game but it was too little to late for Galway as it finished Tipperary 4-9 Galway 1-9

As the saying goes, goals win games, and it was Tipperary that got the goals on this occasion to secure the victory. Galway will be very disappointed with their opening performance. Galway struggled to defend Tipperary’s running and support game while up front, we were lacking support runners and struggled to get through Tipperary’s defence. It is also important to note that Galway were without some key players such as Sarah Dervan, Niamh Kilkenny, Orlaith and Siobhán McGrath and Dervla Higgins. Galway will be hoping to get some of the more experienced players back into the panel before they head to Kilkenny next weekend as they look to keep their hopes of making in back to back league titles alive. The game will take place at 3PM in UPMC Nowlan Park, Kilkenny. The Intermediate team take to the field at 1PM in Clara for their opening game of the Division 2 league.

Galway:

1. Fiona Ryan, 2. Katie Anna Porter, 3. Shauna Healy (c), 19. Jennifer Hughes, 5. Roisin Black, 6. Emma Helebert, 7. Siobhan Gardiner, 8. Aoife Donohue, 9. Rachael Hanniffy, 10. Carrie Dolan, 11. Niamh Hanniffy, 12. Ciara Hickey, 13. Aine Keane, 14. Niamh McPeake, 15. Ailish O’Reilly
Substitutes: S. Rabbitte for C. Hickey (temp. 17-20), S. Rabbitte for KA Porter (HT), N. Niland for J. Hughes (HT), S. Corcoran for C. Dolan (55), L. Kelly for N. McPeake (57), L. Casserly for C. Hickey (60)

Tipperary:

1. Caoimhe Bourke, 2. Julieanne Bourke, 3. Clodagh Quirke, 4. Eimear Loughman, 5. Karin Blair, 6. Karen Kennedy, 7. Mairead Eviston, 8. Teresa Ryan, 9. Grace O’Brien, 10. Roisin Howard, 11. Caoimhe Maher, 12. Casey Hennessy, 13. Eimear McGrath, 14. Courtney Ryan, 15. Eimear Heffernan
Substitutes: M. Bourke for K. Blair (43), C. Devane for C. Ryan (45), N. Treacy for E. Heffernan (47), A. Fahie for G. O’Brien (50), G. Moloney for C. Hennessy (50), C. Brennan for M. Eviston (54)

ADDITIONAL

• Disappointment for Galway Senior Camogie Team in opening round of the League – Galway Bay FM
• Youthful Galway fall to big defeat in opening league tie – Connacht Tribune
• Champions Galway suffer three-goal defeat to Tipp – Galway Advertiser