AIB All Ireland Intermediate Camogie Club Championship Semi Final Preview- Cahir stand between Tullaroan and All Ireland final date

AIB Intermediate Camogie Club Championship Semi Final

Tullaroan (Kilkenny) vs Cahir (Tipperary)

Venue: St Lachtains Gaa, Freshford  2pm Referee: Cathal Egan (Cork)

Munster Champions Cahir stands between Tullaroan and their dream of reaching their first ever All Ireland final in the clubs history when the two sides clash in Freshford on Sunday at 2pm.

Tullaroan had a fantastic year in 2015 that saw them bounce back from there league final defeat to St Brigid’s to finish the year as County and Leinster Champions. They secured safe passage through to the county final after overcoming Clara after extra time 5-17 to 3-08 to set up a final showdown with Rower Inistioge. After an epic final and a further period of extra time the sides could not be separated as it finished Rower Inistioge 2-12 to Tullaroan’s 1-15 and a replay was needed. In the replay Tullaroan proved the stronger and ran out deserving 1-12 to 2-04 victors after an impressive display. Tullaroan brought their county form into the Leinster Club championship. In the Leinster Championship semi final they faced Ballyboden St Enda’s of Dublin. After starting slowing and falling behind to an early Ballyboden St Enda’s goal, they recovered brilliantly and ran out convincing 3-11 to 1-03 victors to set up a final date against Myshall of Carlow. In the Leinster final played in difficult weather conditions in Nowlan Park, Tullaroan recovered from an early Myshall goal to race into a 0-07 points to 1-00 goal lead at half time. In the second half Myshall stormed back into the contest and found themselves only a point behind 0-08 to 1-04 behind going into the final moments of the game. Tullaroan putting in an impressive defensive display in the final moments led by Aine Fahey to hold on to record a 0-08 to 1-04 victory to claim the Leinster crown and set up Sundays All Ireland semi final against Cahir.

Similar to Tullaroan, Cahir have being in great form in 2015. In the Tipperary county semi final they easily over came Newport after a flawless display to emerge 3-17 to 2-08 victors. This victory set up a final showdown with Slivermines.  In an impressive display Cahir overcome a very strong Slivermines side on a 0-14 points to 0-09 score line. This victory set up a Munster semi final against Brian Dillons of Cork. In an impressive display the Tipperary side proved too strong for the Cork opposition and ran out 3-15 to 1-06 victors and set up a Munster final spot against Lismore of Waterford the reigning Munster and 2014 All Ireland champions.  Many would of expecting the Waterford side to prove to strong for this young Cahir side, but that’s not the way it panned out as Cahir outmuscled the Lismore side and ran out 2-10 to 0-08 point’svictors to claim the Munster crown. They have many duel players also among their ranks and they were unlucky to part of the Cahir side that lost the All-Ireland intermediate ladies club football final to Milltown of Westmeath.

This game has all the hallmarks of being a cracker. Cahir have some real talented players among their ranks and Tullaroan will have to keep an eye on a free scoring forward line of Aisling Moloney, Roisin Howard and Lauren Fitzpatrick who scored 2-10 between them in the Munster final. The Tullaroan forward division of Miriam Walsh, Grace Walsh and Niamh Dowling and Breda O’Neill have being in fantastic form and will pose Cahir some headaches. This game could boil down to which defence can keep the opposing forward line quiet. The experience that Tullaroan have among their ranks, I feel could be the difference on the day but I don’t expect the margin of victory to be more than a few points in it.