A point from Karin Blair at the end of normal time was the deciding score as Tipperary ended a 20 year wait for Camogie League silverware overcoming Galway in Croke Park. Galway missing a late free for a heart-breaking end to the 1A Final.

Tipp to their credit fought from six points down in the opening half to level the tie early in the second. Eimear McGrath was a huge performer for Tipp in bringing them right back into the tie while Karen Kennedy’s second half goal was a huge turning point in the second half.

Galway fought back as Niamh Mallon who has moved to Galway scored three times coming off the bench, Carrie Dolan was another big performer for Galway but with the final puck of the tie, the forward missed a free to level the contest. Galway will rue some missed chances in this tie.

Hawkeye was needed to award the opening score as Karen Kennedy struck the opening score but the decision to award the point needed some consideration but in the end the Premier had the early lead.

It would last about a minute before Carrie Dolan struck the first of three opening half frees to level the tie after four minutes. Orlaith McGrath had the Tribeswomen ahead soon after but Eimear McGrath converted a free in the seventh minute to level proceedings.

From here on it was all Galway on the scoring front until the 22nd minute. Ailish O’Reilly slotted consecutive points, while Aoife Donohue, a Dolan brace of frees and a strike from Siobhan McGrath had Galway ahead 0-8 to 0-2 by the 21st minute. 

Tipp almost had a sniff of a goal chance just prior to that eight point going over. A long ball dropped inside and McGrath booted the sliotar for goal, the effort saved by Fiona Ryan. McGrath however would be the catalyst in driving Tipperary back into the tie.

Kennedy ended a 14 minute wait for a score slotting over her second as Tipp looked to finish the half in strong fashion. They did so as Galway were punished for giving away frees and the dangerous McGrath who has Ashbourne success with UL, obliged to convert the chances.

Four McGrath frees in succession in the final five minutes of play completely changed the narrative of the opening half. Tipp were six points down by the 21st minute and breaking for the interval, with McGrath deadly accurate at the end of the half they trailed by a single point 0-8 to 0-7.

Momentum stayed with Tipperary early in the second half and as Galway again committed a foul close to goal. McGrath had the range to convert her sixth free of the afternoon and level proceedings for the third time in the contest.

Galway ended a wait since the 21st minute of the opening half to register a score as O’Reilly struck a third point of the afternoon to put Galway back into the lead. Tipp still had that momentum and Captain Karen Kennedy soon struck a blow for Galway.

Kennedy had levelled the tie yet again before her pace saw a long ball inside set the half back moved into the forward line away, putting the afterburners on to race beyond the Galway cover and struck to the net for the opening goal of the contest. Tipp ahead for the first time since Kennedy pointed in the third minute. 1-9 to 0-9 after 38 minutes.

While Carrie Dolan struck a monster to reduce the deficit, Caoimhe McCarthy and McGrath added points to keep Tipp ahead by four points. Time was still  there for some late drama and that certainly was the case.

Niamh Mallon, who transferred from Down to Galway having moved West for work, proved a valuable asset coming off the bench. Three points from the Down woman, along with scores from Dolan and Olwen Rabbitte had Galway level by the 57th minute. 

McGrath had pointed in the 51st minute to keep Tipp ticking over prior to that barrage of Galway scores, cornerback Karin Blair, popped up at the end of normal time to strike a point which proved the winning score.