All-Ireland Camogie semifinal: Down 1-3 Tipperary 6-22
Tipperary show no mercy as Down fall
DOWN proved to be no match for Tipperary in Saturday’s All-Ireland Senior semi-final.
It is difficult to believe that almost everyone saw this game as a close call – that’s why it got the top-billing on the Parnell Park doublehealer.
From the start they were very nervous. Then as they began to concede scores, team cohesion broke down and all that was left was fleeting glances of skill and endeavour from a few individuals, uncoordinated and ultimately greedily devoured by a Tipperary side really on song.
Niamh Harkin shot the first goal after eight minutes, the second came in the 20th minute, after Mairin McAleenan had a shot saved on the line and another come off the underside of the crossbar.
Scores then may have lifted the Ulster side’s morale, but once Deirdre Hughes grabbed that second goal to give Tipp a 2-5 to 0-1 lead, the game was over.
The lead was doubled by half-time, and had gone to 5- 18 to 0-2 by the midway point of the second half.
Mairin McAleenan took her third point, and Joan Henderson beat her cousin Jovita Delaney for a goal to give the Down support something to cheer about. However, Tipperary kept up the scoring run with their sixth goal and Deirdre Hughes’ third a few minutes from time.
Ulster Ladies JFC final: Tyrone 3-13 Down 1-4
McGirr worry as Tyrone triumph
TYRONE stretched their remarkable run in the Ulster Junior Football Championship when they comprehensively outgunned Down to claim the title for the fifth year in a row in yesterday’s final at St Tiernach’s Park, Clones.
But the victory was achieved at a cost as midfielder Lisa McGirr finished the game with her arm in a sling after being involved in a heavy challenge near the break.
And, in what was an unusually physical encounter as far as the ladies game is concerned, referee John Joe Brady booked five players and sent off McGirr’s midfield partner Joanne Poyntz for a high challenge midway through the second half.
Sean O’Kane will also be concerned at the fact his team contrived to shoot fifteen wides over the course of the hour and such profligacy could prove costly in the run in to what the manager hopes will be another visit to Croke Park in October.
Next on the agenda, however, is a trip to Connacht on August 28 when the Red Hand girls will face the winners of next week’s provincial final between Roscommon and Leitrim.
Tyrone SFC quarter-final Carrickmore 2-11 Dromore 1-9
Carrickmore end gallant Dromore bid
GOALS from Conor McAleer and Peter Loughran sent Carrickmore through to the Tyrone Senior Championship semi-finals at Omagh last night, and ended Dromore’s dream of another giant-killing act.
McAleer finished off a flowing move with a cracking ninth minute goal to put Carrickmore firmly in control, leading by 1-2 to 0-1.
But Dromore kept in touch with a series of converted frees from Joe Campbell, narrowing the gap to two points at one stage. Their defence was struggling to contain live wire Brian Gormley, however.
The former Tyrone star was involved in virtually every attacking move his side put together, and contributed three points to ease Carrrickmore into a 1-7 to 0- 5 half-time lead.
Battling Dromore narrowed the gap to just a point with a confident opening to hit second half, Colm McCullagh, Joe Campbell and Declan Quinn all hitting the target. But they were rocked by a second Carrickmore goal, a brilliant finish by Peter Loughran after 13 minutes.
Four minutes later Dromore pulled a goal back through defender Ryan McMenamin, who got in behind the defence to punch to the net.
Carrickmore’s experience eventually told, however, and they finished strongly with scores from Loughran and Davitt McElroy to go through to the semis.
