Tipp head into semi-final off back-to-back defeats

Attention now turns to Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final against Kilkenny in Rathdowney at 2.00pm

CAMOGIE: Electric Ireland Minor ‘A’ Championship Round 5

Waterford 2-7

Tipperary 1-6

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Katelyn Lyons (Waterford).

SCORERS – Waterford: Katelyn Lyons 2-0; Eimear O’Neill 0-4 (2 frees); Maggie Gostl 0-3.

Tipperary: Caoimhe Stakelum 0-3 frees; Ali O’Kelly 1-0; Caitlyn Treacy, Danielle Ryan, Lucy Purcell 0-1 each.

Tipperary suffered a final group game loss in the All-Ireland Minor ‘A’ Camogie Championship to Waterford on Sunday at the SETU Arena in Waterford.

With their semi-final spot already secured, Tipperary were second best to a much hungrier and determined Waterford side who needed a win to finish in the top 4 and claim a semi-final spot.

With twenty minutes gone, the sides were level at 0-2 apiece. Eimear O’Neill pointed two points in succession from play and a free to give the home side a two point lead before the excellent Katelyn Lyons fired home her first of two goals to make it 1-4 to 0-3 with 27 minutes played.

The goal sprung Tipperary into life and they finished the half brilliantly with 1-3 without reply to take a two point lead in at the break. Ali O’Kelly scoring a superb goal while Caitlyn Treacy made a fine run from wing back to fire over a much-needed point.

Unfortunately for Tipperary, they never built on this fine spell and in fact they failed to score in the second half as again Waterford emerged the hungrier side. Eimear O’Neill pointed two frees within minutes of the restart to tie the game and then a killer blow for Tipperary came in the 44th minute when Katelyn Lyons raised a green flag to put Waterford up 2-6 to 1-6.

In a very low scoring final quarter it was the 63rd minute before the next score came in the form of a free from Eimear O’Neill to seal a four point win for Waterford to the delight of the home crowd.

For Tipperary, Sarah Corcoran was dominant at centre back while Danielle Ryan played well in midfield. Waterford however were first to all the breaks and their attack were much more threatening throughout.

Attention now turns to Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final against Kilkenny. Tipperary defeated the Leinster side in the group stage but just like Waterford at the weekend there is no doubt Kilkenny will be out for revenge. John Ryan’s side will be hoping they can get back to winning ways in Rathdowney and book their place in an All-Ireland Final against either Cork or Waterford who meet in the other semi-final.

TEAMS - Waterford: Katelyn Gardner; Alex Healy, Anna McGoldrick, Cara Cantwell; Katie O’Neill, Holly O’Sullivan, Abbie Burrows; Ali Ferguson, Hannah McGrath; Katelyn Lyons, Molly Kearney, Rebecca Farrell; Eimear O’Neill, Maggie Gostl, Emma Fitzgerald.

Tipperary: Aoife Gleeson (Kiladangan); Paula Quirke (Boherlahan-Dualla), Aoife Mellerick (Newport/Ballinahinch), Ellie Franklin (Moyle Rovers); Eabha Dolan (Moyle Rovers), Sarah Corcoran (Moycarkey/Borris, Capt), Caitlyn Treacy (Moneygall); Leanna Coppinger (Thurles Sarsfields), Danielle Ryan (Eire Og Annacarty); Caoimhe Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields), Lucy Purcell (Thurles Sarsfields), Hannah Butler (Cashel King Cormacs); Sophie Maher (Clonoulty/Rossmore), Lucy Heffernan (Eire Og Annacarty), Ali O’Kelly (Kilruane MacDonaghs).

Subs: Ciara Shelly (Moycarkey/Borris) for Heffernan; Emer Dwan (Cashel King Cormacs) for Maher; Eimhear Troy (Toomevara) for Butler; Aoife Fitzgerald (Borris-Ileigh) for Purcell, Ava Gaynor (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for O’Kelly.

Referee: Donnacha O’Callaghan (Limerick)