Tipp go the extra mile to beat Kilkenny

Tipperary qualified for a first All-Ireland Minor Camogie final since 2016 after overcoming a very strong Kilkenny side in a classic semi-final which needed extra time on Sunday.

CAMOGIE: Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor ‘A’ Championship Semi-Final

Tipperary 1-15

Kilkenny 1-12

(after extra time)

Report: Joe Scully at Kelly O’Daly Park, Rathdowney

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Sarah Corcoran (Tipperary).

SCORERS – Tipperary: Caoimhe Stakelum 1-9 (0-7 frees); Lucy Purcell 0-3; Sarah Corcoran, Lucy Heffernan, Rachel O’Meara 0-1 each.

Kilkenny: Niamh Davis 1-2; Ciara Dunne 0-3 (3 frees); Katie Brennan, Shona Ruane 0-2 each; Ciara O’Shea (free), Aisling Browne, Julie Lennon 0-1 each.

A strong performance in the first half of extra time was ultimately the difference between the two sides, as the Premier County outscored the Cats by four points to one.

Both teams deserve immense credit for what was a great game which ebbed and flowed throughout, as the fine crowd in attendance were treated to a spectacle of the highest quality with the the result in doubt right until the final whistle.

There was great heart and commitment shown by both sides along with some great camogie with every score been hard to come by as both defensives were excellent throughout.

It was a game that neither team really deserved to lose, but Tipperary had that little bit too much for a Kilkenny side who will be very disappointed, but can hold their heads high for the effort they put in, and who will look back on their shooting which let them down, hitting sixteen wides to Tipperary’s eight.

The game would take a few minutes to ignite but once it did it really got going, the first score coming in the ninth minute when the excellent Caoimhe Stakelum goaled for Tipperary after the Cats defence failed to clear.

A minute later, Lucy Purcell extended the lead after a fine run and point. Kilkenny would respond with a flourish and would hit the next three points from play through Katie Brennan, Shona Ruane and Niamh Davis after fifteen minutes.

Then it would be Tipp’s turn to reply with Stakelum hitting two points, but Kilkenny would hit back with the final two scores of the half through Katie Brennan and Julie Lennon to leave the score, 1-3 to 0-5.

The sides would trade scores at the start of the second half through a Stakelum free before Ciara O’Shea responded with a free for the Cats, and then a Lucy Purcell effort from play for Tipp. Kilkenny would then have a glorious chance for a goal but Shona Ruane’s effort would go wide from only a few yards out. Caoimhe Stakelum extended her sides lead to three points with a free, before two points from Ciara Dunne had the lead back to a point after 43 minutes.

Tipp’s Lucy Heffernan would hit one of the scores of the game with a fine effort from all of fifty metres. Less than a minute later, Kilkenny would take the lead for the first time when Niamh Davis goaled excellently after the Tipp defence had failed to clear.

The game would really take off from this point and the Leinster side would extend their lead through a fine Shona Ruane effort, before a 45 from Stakelum had the Tipp back on track.

A Ciara Dunne free had the lead back to two in the 57th minute. Stakelum would respond with a free as it looked like Kilkenny had done enough for the win but up stepped Lucy Purcell in the second minute of added time to level and send it to extra time.

Tipperary would hit the first two points of extra time with Rachel O’Meara opening the scoring, before the excellent captain Sarah Corcoran added to their lead. Aisling Browne would pull one back for the Cats, but two points from Caoimhe Stakelum would leave Tipperary leading 1-14 to 1-11 at the change of ends.

A great team move finished off by Niamh Davis had the gap back to two points after just seventeen seconds of the restart as Kilkenny would push for a way back into the game and had their chances, but it would be Caoimhe Stakelum who would have the final say with a free, as Tipperary would hold out in the end despite severe pressure as Kilkenny pressed for a goal late.

TEAMS – Tipperary: Danielle Butler (Eire Og Annacarty 6); Paula Quirke (Boherlahan-Dualla 7), Aoife Mellerick (Newport/Ballinahinch 7), Ellie Franklin (Moyle Rovers 8); Eabha Dolan (Moyle Rovers 6), Sarah Corcoran (Moycarkey/Borris, Capt 9), Caithlyn Treacy (Moneygall 6); Lucy Heffernan (Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill 8), Aoife Fitzgerald (Borris-Ileigh 6); Lucy Purcell (Thurles Sarsfields 8), Danielle Ryan (Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill 7), Ciara Shelly (Moycarkey/Borris 6); Ava Bevans (Borris-Ileigh 6), Caoimhe Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields 9), Elena McGrath (Holycross/Ballycahill 6).

Subs: Emer Dwan (Cashel King Cormacs 7) for Shelly (25); Sarah McLoughlin (Boherlahan-Dualla 7) for Dolan (HT); Ali O’Kelly (Kilruane MacDonaghs 6) for Bevans (49); Rachael O’Meara (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone 7) for McGrath (55); Hannah Butler (Cashel King Cormacs 7) for Fitzgerald (57).

Kilkenny: Jennifer Saunders (6), Caoimhe Power (7), Angela Carroll (8), Rachel Phelan (8), Una Duggan (6), Anna Doheny (7), Orlaith Kirwan (6), Emily Smith (6), Ciara O’Shea (8), Ciara Dunne (8), Shona Ruane (7), Aisling Browne (6), Julie Lennon (7), Katie Brennan (8), Niamh Davis (8).

Subs: Ambar Laherty (6) for Smith (HT), Louisa Gilmore (6) for Lennon (55); Lucy Boyd (6) for Ruane (5 ET).

Referee: Karol Collins (Galway).