Stakelum shoots Premier minors to provincial glory

1-9 from Player of the Match Caoimhe Stakelum powered Tipperary to the Munster Minor ‘A’ Camogie title on Sunday afternoon.

CAMOGIE: Munster Minor ‘A’ Championship Final

Tipperary 1-13

Waterford 0-9

Report: Tomás McCarthy at Walsh Park, Waterford

Photos: Marty Ryan/SportsFocus

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Caoimhe Stakelum (Tipperary)

SCORERS – Tipperary: Caoimhe Stakelum 1-9 (0-7 frees, 0-1 ‘45); Lucy Heffernan, Lucy Purcell, Danielle Ryan, Ciara Shelly 0-1 each.

Waterford: Maggie Gostl 0-4 (3 frees, 1 ‘45); Eimear O’Neill, Emma Fitzgerald (1 free) 0-2 each; Hannah McGrath 0-1.

Family and friends gathered in front of the stand as captain Sarah Corcoran raised the provincial trophy. Manager John Ryan even got drenched in water during the celebrations on the field.

Stakelum’s first half goal proved the turning point of this decider as the Premier girls recovered from a four point deficit. While the home side hit thirteen wides, on a frustrating day in front of the posts, Stakelum nailed all eight of her placed balls. The Thurles Sarsfields forward was simply unmarkable.

A mean defence only conceded four points from play; Paula Quirke, Ellie Franklin and Caithlyn Treacy closed down the Déise danger women with brilliant blocks. Lucy Heffernan also put in a big shift at midfield.

Tipperary won the toss, but captain Sarah Corcoran elected to play against the strong breeze in the first half. Wind assisted Waterford raced into a four-nil lead during the opening quarter. Maggie Gostl converted two placed balls while Eimear O’Neill and Emma Fitzgerald split the posts from play.

The hosts didn’t make the most of the elements. However. as they were guilty of eight wides and three balls short into the goalkeeper. Caithlyn Treacy and Aoife Mellerick also blocked down Waterford point attempts.

It took Tipp thirteen minutes to get the scoreboard moving via midfielder Lucy Heffernan. The away side got back level as Caoimhe Stakelum slotted three frees. On 20 minutes, Stakelum sprinted clear of the Déise defence but saw her shot blocked by Katelyn Gardner. The Premier full forward reacted quickest and whipped the rebound to the Waterford net (1-4 to 0-4).

The unstoppable Thurles Sarsfields attacker added two more points to her tally as she finished the half on 1-5. A white flag from Danielle Ryan made it 1-7 to 0-4 in favour of the visitors.

Waterford went sixteen minutes without a score. Points by Gostl (free) and Eimear O’Neill late in the half narrowed the gap to four at the interval (1-7 to 0-6).

Caithlyn Treacy made another eye catching block at the start of the second period before Stakelum and Gostl traded frees. The Déise tried four different free-takers but Stakelum was unerring at the other end.

Tipp were penalised four times for throwing the ball by referee Cathal McAllister, much to the frustration of the management team on the sideline. Waterford couldn’t get any closer than four points, however. Lucy Purcell intercepted a puckout and Ciara Shelly opened up a six point gap (1-10 to 0-7).

On 43 minutes, Déise netminder Katelyn Gardner denied Stakelum a second goal and deflected Hannah Butler’s rebound away for a 45; Stakelum did the rest.

Waterford’s wide count rose to thirteen and never threatened a comeback. Emma Fitzgerald and Hannah McGrath got consolation scores. Stakelum and Lucy Purcell tagged on points for Tipp in the last quarter. Goalkeeper Danielle Butler dealt with an injury time effort from Niamh Ryan as the blue and gold comfortably held out for a seven point victory.

The All Ireland series is only around the corner. When the celebrations die down, Tipperary will prepare for a home game against Kilkenny on March 3rd.

TEAMS – Tipperary: Danielle Butler (Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill); Paula Quirke (Boherlahan-Dualla), Aoife Mellerick (Newport/Ballinahinch), Ellie Franklin (Moyle Rovers); Éabha Dolan (Moyle Rovers), Sarah Corcoran (Moycarkey/Borris), Caithlyn Treacy (Moneygall); Lucy Heffernan (Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill), Emer Dwan (Cashel King Cormacs); Lucy Purcell (Thurles Sarsfields), Danielle Ryan (Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill), Ciara Shelly (Moycarkey/Borris); Ava Bevans (Borris-Ileigh), Caoimhe Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields), Hannah Butler (Cashel King Cormacs) .

Subs: Elana McGrath (Holycross/Ballycahill) for Heffernan (54), Aoife Fitzgerald (Borris-Ileigh) for Bevans (60+2), Éimhear Troy (Toomevara) for Shelly (60+2).

Waterford: Katelyn Gardner, Katie O'Neill, Anne McGoldrick, Cara Cantwell; Holly O’Sullivan, Alex Healy, Abbie Burrows; Ali Ferguson, Hannah McGrath; Eimear O’Neill, Niamh Ryan, Katelyn Lyons; Emma Fitzgerald, Ava Fitzpatrick, Maggie Gostl.

Subs: Amelie Quann for Lyons (44), Chloe Morrissey for Katie O’Neill (50), Molly Kearney for Fitzgerald (60+2), Rebecca Mason for Ryan (60+2).

Referee: Cathal McAllister (Cork).