It was the same but different as Cork maintained their championship hold over Clare to power into the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Semi-Finals in Pairc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday afternoon.
Clare’s opening round encounter with Kildare in the TG4 All-Ireland intermediate ladies football championship “was a game we definitely left behind us,” manager James Murrihy felt.
Uncharacteristic errors proved costly for Clare as a late seven point turnaround saw Kildare snatch the whip hand in Group 4 of the All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies Football Championship on Sunday afternoon.
Not even an unprecedented 17 point masterclass from Tony Kelly could prevent neighbours Limerick from securing the double boost of National League honours and a Munster Semi-Final spot in Semple Stadium, Thurles this afternoon.
In a display that could only be admired, Tipperary emphatically secured the opening points of this year’s Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship on Sunday afternoon.
Cork deservedly powered into a semi-final meeting with Limerick in a fortnight’s time after emphatically seeing off Clare on Saturday afternoon.
Not even the inclement weather could dampen down the real homecoming as Inagh-Kilnamona eased into a third Munster Senior Camogie Final in four seasons in Inagh on Sunday afternoon.
If clinching an 11th senior ladies football crown in just 13 seasons wasn’t sweet enough, the fact that Banner Ladies Captain Grainne Nolan was lifting the coveted cup for the first time certainly piped the celebratory icing on the cake in Doonbeg on Sunday.
It’s funny how things work out sometimes. With the pandemic protocols ensuring a limited preparation time, it certainly seemed to suit the strength-in-depth of the vastly experienced contenders most as Kilmurry Ibrickane and Cratloe renewed acquaintances in the football version while having shared the last five hurling titles, Sixmilebridge and Ballyea were anticipated to face-off for a historic Canon Hamilton showdown.
Corofin/Ruan’s burgeoning underage dominance extended to a second successive Willie Chaplin Cup on Saturday afternoon but only after a stern evaluation from Feakle/Killanena in O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge.
