The Very Camogie League’s Division 1A is set for a thrilling wrap-up as four teams sit at the top of the standings, tied solely on goal difference with two games left to play. A last-minute strike from Eimear McGrath delivered a significant 2-10 to 1-10 triumph for Tipperary against reigning All-Ireland champions, Cork. This result implicates five out of the six teams in contention for the Division 1A finals.
Following their defeat by Cork two weeks prior, Waterford rebounded with a solid 2-16 to 0-8 victory over Clare at Fraher Field, placing them +14 on goal difference. On another front, Galway, who hold two points less than Waterford, responded to their prior loss with a 2-12 to 1-9 win over Kilkenny in Loughrea.
Tipperary caused a stir once more, delivering the first defeat to Cork in a gripping game at Páirc Uí Rinn by 2-10 to 1-10. Astonishingly, this sees the Leesiders, previously leading the standings, drop to fourth place, holding a goal difference of +1, which is two points behind their victors.
Long-awaited goals from McGrath and Niamh Treacy stunned Cork, who relied heavily on their leading player, Amy O’Connor, who scored 1-6. Cork’s wasted opportunities will surely haunt them, racking up ten wides in contrast to Tipperary’s four.
The Premier County displayed an admirable comeback effort following their initial defeat to Waterford, securing two significant wins. Despite dominating in defence, disaster struck for them when Nicole Walsh, the goalie, bungled O’Connor’s shot at the beginning of the second half. But, they benefited from a Cork blunder, a handpass attempt that went awry, which allowed Tipperary’s McGrath, who had previously scored 3-7 against Galway, to net a stunning half-hour goal.
Tipp sealed the lead by a solitary point when an attempted goal by Karen Kennedy was deflected by Molly Lynch in the added fifth minute, with Niamh Treacy securing the rebound into the net. The youthful Clare side remained competitive in the initial half against Waterford, and despite Mairead O’Brien’s goal cleverly scored in the sixth minute, they retorted through scores by Caoimhe Cahill and Róisín Begley. Clare could have pulled further ahead had it not been for Brianna O’Regan, Waterford’s goalkeeper known for her penalty-saving tactics, denying a shot from O’Loughlin.
The interim score stood at 1-4 to 0-4, but post break, Waterford widened the gap with scores from Beth Carton, Bevin Bowdren, and Tara Power. Niamh Rockett’s 40th-minute goal rendered Clare’s hopes for a comeback futile.
Playing their first half in a cautious deadlock at 0-4 each, Galway and Kilkenny saw a sudden onslaught of scores tipping the match. Galway, leading by three points, saw Aoife Donohue notch a goal, and with additional points scored by Siobhán McGrath and Niamh McPeake, secured an eight-point lead. Kilkenny countered with three points, including two from Asha McHardy, but Galway successfully fended off a Kilkenny’s key scoring opportunity.
Although Kilkenny sustained the loss, their contention remains alive with three points. However, they must be mindful of the looming threat of relegation. This leaves everything to play for in rounds four and five scheduled for March 23rd and 30th.
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