2006 All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship

Format change

The championship was changed from knockout to a round-robin system for the first time in 2006. The system was retained, a decision criticised by Cork manager John Cronin. The six senior counties were all guaranteed a minimum of five competitive games, with the hope that standards all round would improve as a result of all the extra matches. Tipperary won their championship group game against Cork by 3-8 to 1-10 in Templemore, with two goals from Emily Hayden and a third from Louise Young. They eventually lost the All-Ireland final to the same opposition, something that was happen four times in the first six competitions under the new structure.

Group stages

For the final round of the championship Marie O'Connor arrived in Athenry by helicopter after attending her brother's wedding and scored 2-2 as her side Kilkenny defeated Galway 3-5 to 0-10. Wexford defeated Limerick 4-18 to 0-4 in their final group game in Bruff but still did not qualify for the semis.

Semi-finals

The closing stages were disappointing, Cork beating Galway by four points in a stop-start first semi-final and Claire Grogan’s sending Tipperary through to the final beating Kilkenny by five points in the second semi-final.

Final

For the first time in camogie history, the All Ireland finals did not produce a single goal. Play flowed better than in the semi-finals and just one of the game's 16 scores, Jennifer O'Leary's fourth and final point for Cork, came from a free. Joanne Ryan fought what one reporter described as “mammoth and fascinating tussle” at midfield with Briege Corkery. Jim O’Sullivan, Gaelic games correspondent of the Irish Examiner, wrote:

Fintan McNamara of Clare refereed.

Final stages

date = August 11 Semi-Final | team1 = Cork| score = 1-7 – 0–6 | team2 = Galway| stadium = Nowlan Park, Kilkenny }}

date = August 12 Semi-Final | team1 = Tipperary| score = 0-13 – 1-8| team2 = Kilkenny | stadium = Nowlan Park, Kilkenny}}

date = September 10 Final | team1 = Cork| score = 0-12 – 0-4 .| team2 = Tipperary| stadium = Croke Park, Dublin }}

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References

References

1. 2006 All Ireland final reports in [http://www.examiner.ie/archives/2006/0911/sport/powerful-cork-put-up-the-shutters-13008.html Irish Examiner] {{Webarchive. link. (2011-08-10 , [http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/camogie-rebels-raise-the-bar-after-trouncing-tepid-tipp-77575.html Irish Independent], [http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2006/0911/1156791558400.html Irish Times] and Youtube Video highlights [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtLwc6jUnlI part one] and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJzacxRW6Pg part two].)
2. Moran, Mary. (2011). "A Game of Our Own: The History of Camogie". Cumann Camógaíochta.
3. [http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/cork-boss-wants-syst em-scrapped-77004.html John Cronin: Scrap the new championship system and go back to a straight knock-out, Irish Independent Sept 7 2006]
4. [http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/rebels-to-take-on-galway-in-semis-81878.html Report Aug 7 2006 in Irish Independent]
5. "Powerful Cork put up the shutters {{!}} Irish Examiner".
6. 2006 All Ireland final reports in [http://www.examiner.ie/archives/2006/0911/sport/powerful-cork-put-up-the-shutters-13008.html Irish Examiner] {{Webarchive. link. (2011-08-10 , [http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/camogie-rebels-raise-the-bar-after-trouncing-tepid-tipp-77575.html Irish Independent], [http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2006/0911/1156791558400.html Irish Times] and Youtube Video highlights [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtLwc6jUnlI part one] and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJzacxRW6Pg part two].)