Templemore finish strongly to claim Intermediate crown

Tipperary LGFA Camida Intermediate Championship Final
Templemore 3-11
Ardfinnan 1-11

Templemore produced a powerful second-half finish to capture the Tipperary LGFA Camida Intermediate Championship title at Golden, overcoming a lively Ardfinnan challenge by six points in an entertaining county final.

There was little to separate the sides for much of the contest. Ardfinnan made a flying start, Templemore recovered impressively, and the teams were still separated by only three points with ten minutes remaining. However, two late Templemore goals from substitute Kate Nevin and Fiona McHale finally broke Ardfinnan’s resistance and carried the Mid Tipp side to a 3-11 to 1-11 victory.

Ardfinnan could hardly have asked for a better opening. Sinead O’Carroll had them off the mark with a point from play after just over two minutes before Clara English converted a free and Ava Gleeson added another from play. With only four minutes gone Ardfinnan were already 0-3 to 0-0 in front.

Templemore took a little time to settle but Fiona McHale opened their account from a free in the 12th minute and Neassa Towey soon became increasingly influential. Towey struck twice from play in quick succession to draw Templemore level at 0-3 apiece before McHale followed with a point from play to give her side the lead for the first time.

Ardfinnan responded in emphatic fashion when they found the net after 19 minutes, the county’s live update recording the goal from play without identifying the scorer. That restored a 1-3 to 0-4 advantage, but Templemore refused to allow the setback to halt their momentum.

Emma Fitzpatrick reduced the deficit with a point from play and Towey followed with another to bring the sides level once again. Kate Delaney then nudged Templemore ahead, only for Gemma Mai Barrett to answer at the other end as the final remained finely balanced at 1-4 to 0-7.

The first major turning point arrived just before the half-hour. Shona McBride struck for a Templemore goal in the 29th minute, suddenly opening up a three-point gap. Clara English responded with another free for Ardfinnan before the break, leaving Templemore 1-7 to 1-5 ahead at half-time.

Templemore goalkeeper Megan Lonergan was forced into a save shortly after the restart as Ardfinnan looked for a quick response, but it was Templemore who registered the first score of the half through Towey from play.

Towey then converted a free to stretch the lead to four points at 1-9 to 1-5 before English kept Ardfinnan in touch with another placed ball.

The game remained very much alive as it entered the final quarter. Kate Nevin, introduced from the Templemore bench, made an immediate impact with a point from play to restore a four-point cushion, before English again answered from a free to leave it 1-10 to 1-7 after 50 minutes.

Then came the score that changed the complexion of the final.

Nevin struck for a Templemore goal in the 51st minute, pushing the advantage out to six points at 2-10 to 1-7. Ardfinnan refused to yield and English converted two further frees in quick succession to reduce the margin to four, 2-10 to 1-9, with just under five minutes of normal time remaining.

Any hopes of a late Ardfinnan comeback were ended three minutes later when Fiona McHale drove home Templemore’s third goal. The score moved Templemore seven clear at 3-10 to 1-9 and effectively placed one hand on the Intermediate trophy.

Áine Delaney added another Templemore point from play approaching the hour mark to stretch the advantage to eight.

Ardfinnan continued battling until the end and substitute Aoibhin Maher was among the late scorers as they reduced the deficit, but Templemore had done enough and saw out the closing stages to claim a deserved 3-11 to 1-11 victory.

It was a final in which Templemore had been asked serious questions. They recovered from conceding the opening three scores, responded again after Ardfinnan’s first-half goal, and ultimately found the decisive attacking quality when the contest reached its most important stage.

The introduction of Kate Nevin proved particularly significant, her 1-1 in the closing quarter providing the spark for Templemore’s decisive surge, while McHale’s late goal finally put the result beyond doubt.

Scorers

Templemore: Fiona McHale 1-2 (0-1 free), Neassa Towey 0-5 (0-1 free), Shona McBride 1-0, Kate Nevin 1-1, Emma Fitzpatrick 0-1, Kate Delaney 0-1, Áine Delaney 0-1.

Ardfinnan: Clara English 0-6 (frees), Sinead O’Carroll 0-1, Ava Gleeson 0-1, Gemma Mai Barrett 0-1, Aoibhin Maher 0-1, 1-1 from scorers not identified in the live updates shown.

Half-time: Ardfinnan 1-5, Templemore 1-7.
Full-time: Ardfinnan 1-11, Templemore 3-11.