Report by Meggan O'Reilly
Liberty Insurance,All Ireland Senior Camogie Championship.
Dublin v Tipperary at Parnell Park, Sunday July 22nd 2018
Full Time score Dublin 0.13 v Tipperary 0.13
Dynamite Dubs put in a nail biting performance against resilient Tipp side.
The grass was green, the crowd was blue and the Dubs were ready.
With three wins out of four, the question that would enter many of our minds was can Dublin's young guns keep on firing?
Supporters from every club came to Parnell Park today to support the girls in blue on their journey to hopefully secure another win against Tipperary this afternoon.
Today’s proceedings left many spectators going home with no nails left on their fingers and pounding proud hearts.
Ella Crotty from Kevins Hurling and Camogie Club sang the National Anthem beautifully. Hazel McKenna from St Pat's Palmerstown was the mascot on the day.
Teams from Thomas Davis, St Vincents, CBC, Nh Barrog and Na Fianna played mini games at half time.
Herity made two changes to his side, Naomh Judes' Niamh Gannon started corner back where she would go on to play a phenomenal game to earn her well deserving player of the match amongst her peers and selectors. Gráinne Quinn was back in full forward for Alex Griffin, where the high balls into Quinn would cause havoc for any full back.
Owen Elliot through the ball in and the first half was on its way or so we thought it to be. However this was not the case when young soaring star Miriam Twomey went down to ground with a knee injury and was forced off minutes later.
It was an utter blow to their half back line, however, to step up was experienced yet young Emma O Byrne, who made an impact immediately.
Within 4 minutes Dublin had opened their tally of points with a long range point from leader Eimear McCarthy. 2 mins later Niamh Gannon battled for the ball, winning it and beautifully striking it over black spot. It was a similar sighting to that of her teammate, Hannah Hegarty.
Dublin knew from the first whistle that this was going to be a game that would go down to the wire. Tipperary are notorious for their driving attitude and in the 8th minutes forced keeper Faye McCarthy to put off a spectacular save to stop the ball from passing the goal line. It was this attack that got Tipp raring to go and they slotted over 3 points in a row from Cait Devane and Caoimhe Maher.
With 22 minutes gone, Herity introduced Lucan Sarsfields Mairí Moynihan who has hands of steel when it comes to high catches.
With relentless work-rate from Orla Beegan, Eimear McCarthy, Hannah Hegarty and Doireann Mullany, Dublin could go into the 2nd half with a point lead due to the fine efforts from McCarthy, Beegan and Siobhán Kehoe.
The score at half time was Dublin 0-06 , Tipperary 0-05.
The 2nd half begun and it was Siobhán “Shivers” Kehoe, from Cabra west who struck the sweet point and sent the sliotar pinging over the bar. Her Aunt Madeline who’s birthday was today, was struck with such pride watching her niece play this afternoon.
Seconds later Mairí Moynihan courageously caught a high ball and slotted it over the bar. Likewise was Eimear McCarthy with another long range slot from midfield.
Dublin were ahead by 5 points and looked untouchable. The work rate and intensity that was put in every tackle from player 1-15 was spectacular. Aisling Carolan once again showed her strength and composure, while Laura Twomey, Ali Twomey and Emma Flanagan showed their style of heads up hurling picking out some beautiful passes.
Despite this 5 point lead, Tipperary kept fighting and were determined to get those points back. Tipp had some stylish hurlers who could strike the ball over from every angle. They were dangerous, and struck 4 points in a row from the 10th minute to catch up with the Dubs.
Alex Griffin was introduced and straight away had the awareness to make the space and slot the ball over the bar from outside the 20 yard line. Herity knew that he could empty his bench and it was the bench that would finish the game off. With this intent in mind, he brought in Sile Ni Coitir and Leah Butler into the forward line. The Tipp defence line struggled to keep up with their speed and reaction time.
With 10 minutes to go Alex bagged herself another point, along with free taker Orla Beagan who would level the game up.
Minutes had passed and it was Dublin 0-13 Tipp 0-13.
28 minutes had gone. The tension filled the stadium, the pressure mounted. Who would get the winning point..?
Would it be Siobhán Kehoe? unfortunately hit marginally wide, would it be a free from Faye McCarthy, again swayed to the left and wide, or would it be Doireann Mullanny, unfortunately it drifted again to the left and wide.
With seconds to go Dublin begged for one more opportunity but unfortunately there wasn’t enough time on the clock. The game ended in a draw.
A game that Dublin should have won, however with missed chances and Tipperary's determined attitude it would be fair to say that a draw was justice.
No team deserved to lose today.
Every player on the pitch put their body on the line once again to make the road brighter and bluer for Dublin Camogie, and Tipperary certainly struck some beautiful deserved points and some fine passages of play.
Dublin advance forward to the quarter finals facing the Galway Girls of the West. And my oh my are we in for a thrill.
Last but certainly not least, the supporters today were absolutely outstanding and most definitely lifted the girls in blue up when they felt exhausted. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts and hope that you come again with pride in your hearts at the quarter final and hopefully some nails to bite on again.
Up the Dubs.
Dublin scorers
Eimear McCarthy 0.04
Siobhan Kehoe 0.03
Orla Beagan 0.02 (F)
Alex Griffin 0.01
Mairi Moynihan 0.01
Niamh Gannon 0.01
Emma Flanagan 0.01