Munster win welcome but focus shifts to All-Ireland chase for minor camogie team

By Shane Brophy

Tipperary minor camogie manager John Ryan was very satisfied after claiming a valuable piece of silverware with Sunday’s Munster Final win over Waterford.

“You are always happy to get a win, especially when it is a Munster Final,” said the Upperchurch/Drombane man.

“The girls dug deep, showed the mettle that is in them and eked out a good win.”

Having to play the game in Waterford’s back-yard, Tipperary had to overcome a slow start but it wasn’t anything that concerned the manager too much.

“There is a bit of heart in this team, a determination, and a never say side spirit,” he revealed.

“We weren’t overly concerned at being four points down after seven minutes but no score on the board but hats off to the girls, they dug deep and pulled off a great win.”

Caoimhe Stakelum was the star performer for Tipperary, contributing all bar four points of her sides tally but Ryan highlighted the Thurles players overall performance.

“It wasn’t just her goal today but her workrate as well, she did an amount of hooking and blocking. It doesn’t matter who gets the scores but it’s a case of getting the scores,” he said.

This Munster Final is a perfect tune-up for the main business of the campaign which is the All-Ireland Championship which begins on Saturday, 2nd March when Tipperary host Kilkenny, who are also provincial champions, after beating Wexford in the Leinster decider at the weekend.

However, before then key members of both the Tipperary and Kilkenny minor teams will face off against each other in the All-Ireland Post Primary Schools finals this Saturday, where in the ‘A’ final, the Ursuline Thurles take on Loreto College Kilkenny in Birr at 12 noon, while at the same time in Johnstown, Our Lady’s Secondary School Templemore take on Our Lady’s Rosbercon/New Ross in the ‘D’ final.

Borrisoleigh will host the ‘B’ final on Saturday between St Raphael’s of Loughrea and St Mary’s of New

Ross.