Grogan comes on to Tipp balance in Premier’s favour

By Daragh Ë Conch·ir

Claire Grogan came off the bench to score the winning point for Tipperary against Cork in a cracking Irish Daily Star Camogie League Division 1 contest at The Ragg.
Playing with a strong wind, the Leesiders led by 1-6 to 0-4 at the interval, Gemma O’Connor’s free from distance giving them the upper hand. Sile Burns weighed in with six points from frees for Cork over the hour but the loss of O’Connor with a dead leg was to have significant impact on proceedings as Tipperary thundered into the game
Three of the younger brigade, Nicole Walsh, Sarah Friday and Brid Quinn were very much to the fore for John Lillis’s team, with Walsh converting six frees successfully to bring them level before Grogan struck for to snatch the victory on a 0-14 to 1-10 scoreline.
Kilkenny had a crushing 7-16 to 0-5 win over Dublin in the other Group 2 game at Croke Park on Saturday night. The hosts were still in the game at the break but goals by Aoife Neary, Lizzie Lyng and Denise Gaule gave the Cats a 3-5 to 0-5 interval lead. Dublin were unable to score after the resumption though and it was one-way traffic in the other direction, with four further goals completing the rout.
In Group 1, Wexford beat Offaly by 2-14 to 0-10 while Galway out-pointed Clare 0-17 to 0-8.
The introduction of Lenny Holohan and Katrina Parrock at half time was the crucial factor as the champions saw off the Faithful, with both subs scoring second half goals against a team that didn’t manage a score from play until Orla Kirwan raised a white flag in injury time.
Offaly led at half time by 0-6 to 0-5 with all their scores coming from Elaine Dermody (five frees, one 45) but they never really looked like scoring the goal they needed, Mags D’Arcy dealing comfortably with the one shot that came her way via Arlene Watkins in the final quarter.
Apart from the super subs, Wexford had stars all over the pitch with Una Leacy slotting four points from play and Kate Kelly five frees and a 45.
Aislinn Connolly hit eight points, six from placed balls, as Galway built on a 0-7 to 0-6 half time lead having played into the wind to take the spoils. Claire McMahon and Chloe Morey scored six points between them from frees but Galway had more attacking threat with the vastly experienced Veronica Curtin sniping three points from wing-forward and Orla Kilkenny slotting two.
In Division 2 Antrim edged out Wexford 3-6 to 3-4 in a thriller, Waterford had a goal to spare against Limerick, prevailing 1-8 to 0-8, Galway beat Down 0-16 to 1-6 and Cork gained some measure of revenge for their seniors’ defeat by overcoming Tipperary 0-11 to 0-6.

“