Wexford kept their four-in-a-row hopes alive with a gritty 1-11 to 1-10 Liberty Insurance All-Ireland senior camogie quarter-final victory over Offaly at Portlaoise. They will now play old rivals Galway, who had a much easier time recording a 2-19 to 0-9 victory over Tipperary.
With no seeding in the semi-final draw, that leaves the other semi-final between Cork and Kilkenny, who both progressed to the last four directly by virtue of their 100 per cent runs through the group stages.
Wexford got off to a brilliant start and Stacey Kehoe’s 14th-minute goal pushed them 1-4 to 0-1 clear but Offaly showed their determination in response. Three points from Elaine Dermody, along with two from Tina Hannon brought them to within two points at the interval, 1-5 to 0-6. It was nip and tuck throughout the second half but when Michaela Morkan goaled in the 42nd minute, Offaly were in front and a shock looked on the cards.
Ursula Jacob equalised but Dermody restored the Faithful’s advantage 13 minutes from time. With Kate Kelly inspirational at midfield, Wexford found the wherewithal to prevail. Kelly brought the sides level before Jacob slotted her seventh point to snatch the honours.
Tipperary began well against Galway and led three times inside the opening eight minutes thanks to Nicole Walsh (twice) and Noreen Flanagan. Galway gradually imposed themselves though. Three points from Niamh McGrath and a goal on the half-hour by player of the match, Ailish O’Reilly gave the westerners a 1-11 to 0-5 half-time lead.
McGrath and Molly Dunne added points after the resumption and when O’Reilly blasted to the roof of the Tipperary net for her second goal, it was game over.
The first game in O’Moore Park saw Tipperary beat Galway in a thrilling Under-16A final, 4-6 to 2-8. Niamh Treacy was the star of the show contributing 3-2 to her side’s tally. Such was the fare on offer that the teams received a standing ovation as they left the field at half time, by which stage Limerick led marginally by 3-2 to 2-4.
Treacy had two goals inside 11 minutes but a sensational goal off her left side by Ciara Murphy while on her knees helped Galway claw themselves back into proceedings. A brace of points from Murphy added to scores by Ciara Burke and Catherine Finnerty gave the westerners the whip hand but Treacy’s third major brought the sides level with four minutes remaining.
Buoyed by that score, Tipp finished strongly with a brace of points from Treacy, allied to scores by Sinéad Buckley and Ciardha Maher to claim their second title in three seasons, while also sending an unlucky Galway to their second successive defeat.
Meanwhile, Waterford star Trish Jackman claimed the M Donnelly All-Ireland Poc Fada title for the fifth consecutive time on the Cooley Mountains. Jackman faced opposition from Catriona McCrickard (Down), Bronagh Mone (Armagh), Niamh Mackin (Louth), Deirdre Colfer (Wexford), last year’s runner-up Martine McMahon (Limerick) and Caitriona Daly (Galway). This time it was Daly that pushed the Gaill Tír clubwoman all the way with the Connacht champion’s 28 pocs just one more than the champion’s. McMahon had to be content with third this time around on 30 pocs, with McCrickard just behind in fourth on 31.
