Blair’s late score seals title for Tipperary

• Published date: 15 April 2024
• Publication title: Irish Times (Dublin, Ireland)

In becoming the Very League Division 1A champions, the Blue and Golds are the first county outside of Cork, Galway and Kilkenny to be successful in one of senior camogie’s two marquee competitions since Wexford secured their All-Ireland three-in-a-row in 2012

Karin Blair was the hero, as the scorer of the winning point in the 59th minute. But there were many who deserve the garlands, Eimear McGrath among them. The Drom & Inch star converted eight frees as Tipp made it back from the brink of being in real trouble, six points down after 21 minutes, to going in at the interval trailing by just 0-8 to 0-7.

Then there was the belter from just insider her own 65 in the second half. But team captain Karen Kennedy was probably the right choice for player of the match because her contributions that really swung things the way of Denis Kelly’s crew.

Starting at centre forward, it was her point that ended Galway’s run of six straight scores that threatened serious separation, particularly as it had taken a couple of last-ditch interventions from the likes of the brilliant Mairéad Eviston to deny the westerners a goal on top of that.

Cleverly, Kelly and co moved the Thurles All Star, better known as a centre back and sometime midfielder, to the edge of the opposition square after the restart and her 38th-minute goal – around 60 seconds after she had notched up her third point – helped Tipp move four clear.

Cathal Murray had to call on Niamh Hanniffy, back from a serious knee injury, to replace Róisín Black, who seemed to suffer a hamstring injury and some positional reshuffling followed. Then he turned to two of the greatest in the game right now in former player of the year Niamh Kilkenny, who made her return at the latter end of the competition after having a baby last year.

It was Niamh Mallon who had the biggest impact though. The former Down legend had to wait till now to make her bow for her...