Strong second half spells shield success over Boro for Tullaroan
Tullaroan 2-14 Dicksboro 0-13
A dominant second half saw Tullaroan turn around an interval deficit of five points and claim the senior championship shield spoils at Dicksboro’s expense on Saturday evening.
As Tullaroan captain Grace Walsh said afterwards “It is hard to win anything in senior club camogie in Kilkenny.” This win will serve as a timely boost to Tullaroan heading into the knockout stages of the club championship.
The match started in brisk fashion with a crosswind that slightly favoured Dicksboro in the opening period and they held a one point advantage (0-3 to 0-2) after the opening 10 minutes. Tullaroan were competing well at this stage but Dicksboro then enjoyed a period of dominance with a run of six unanswered points from the 13th to the 26th minutes (this included two fine points from Asha McHardy) and they looked the more impressive side at this time. Tullaroan had missed a number of frees to reduce the deficit but they did get a timely Grace Walsh point on the stroke of half-time to reduce the margin to 0-9 to 0-4.
The second half saw a complete transformation as Dicksboro struggled to get going while Tullaroan, boosted by the arrival of substitutes Ciara Murphy and Karen Jones, took control.
An opening point from Grace Walsh was added to by two fine points from Ciara Murphy to reduce the deficit to a manageable 0-9 to 0-7 by the 37th minute and although an Aoife Prendergast free steadied Dicksboro in the 42nd minute, two further Tullaroan scores from Niamh Dowling (free) and Mirian Walsh reduced the margin to the minimum.
Dicksboro responded with a point from play from Rachel Dowling but Tullaroan were now very much in the ascendancy led by the outstanding Anna Doheny at centre back and after a fine move involving a number of players, Ciara Dunne crashed the ball to the net in the 50th minute to give them the lead for the first time. They then proceeded to dominate the closing 10 minutes during which they added a further 1-5 to just 0-2 for Dicksboro in reply – these scores came from Niamh Dowling (1-3, 3 frees), Anna Doheny (free) and Ciara Dunne.
Tullaroan will be greatly encouraged by this second half display and they certainly have a nice mix of youth and experience in their side as they prepare for knockout action in a week’s time while Dicksboro will know that improvements are needed particularly in attack which got very little change from the tenacious Tullaroan backs during the second period.
Tullaroan: Ella Walton, Sinead Cash, Grace Brennan, Orla O’Grady, Sinead Keoghan, Anna Doheny, Rachel Brennan, Grace Keoghan, Shannon Doheny, Eleanor Doheny, Niamh Dowling, Beth Grace, Miriam Walsh, Ciara Dunne, Grace Walsh.
Subs: Rachel Walsh, Leanne Simpson, Jess Cuddy, Ella Moore, Rebecca Cuddihy, Katie Dunphy, Ciara Murphy, Tara McGree, Emma Walsh, Karen Jones, Sinead Murphy, Katie Hennessy, Ava Dillon, Laura Millea, Eimear Davis, Noelle Maher, Caoimhe Holland.
Dicksboro: Cara Duggan, Niamh Phelan, Tara Clifford, Katie Byrne, Angela Carroll, Caoimhe Dowling, Aisling Browne, Aobha O’Gorman, Tara McGrath, Asha McHardy, Jenny Clifford, Rachel Dowling, Aoife Prendergast, Orla Hanrick, Rose Kelly.
Subs: Jane Cass, Amy Clifford, Sarah O’Gorman, Eva Tynan, Niamh Ryan, Emma Hogan, Ali Greaney, Izzy Roberts, Sophie Roberts, Katie Dowling, Megan Trait, Naomi Trait, Ciara Phelan.
Referee: Frank Murphy