All-Ireland glory for Tipp U14’s

LADIES FOOTBALL: All-Ireland Under 14 Silver Championship Final

Tipperary 3-8

Cavan 1-5

Report: Deniese O’Flaherty in Kinnegad

Tipperary were crowned All-Ireland Ladies Football Under 14 Silver grade champions after defeating Cavan in the final on Sunday.

The Premier County took the game to Cavan right from the start and were the hungrier side throughout.

Tipperary dominated early proceedings and raced into a five point lead after eighteen minutes with Faye O’Dwyer (one free) and Roisin Browne getting two points each. Browne also forced Cavan keeper Caitlin Nolan into making a point blank save.

Cavan got their opening score in the 21st minute, Pearl Gilmartin with a point. Four minutes later, Tipp’s Farrah Madigan took a shot from distance that ended up in the back of the net. Minutes later, Madigan hit the crossbar with a powerful effort.

The Breffni County were back in the game just before half-time; Gilmartin pointed a free before Laila Cooney was fouled and a penalty was awarded. Cooney took the resulting kick and made no mistake to cut the deficit to three 1-5 to 1-2.

Tipp made the perfect start to the second half, with two minutes gone on the clock they got their second goal. Substitutes Anna Leahy and Klaudia Compa combined with Compa finishing to the net, she followed up with a point. In the 34th minute, Tipp raised the green flag again through O’Dwyer.

In the 37th minute Riona Crowe’s effort was just inches away from getting a second goal for Cavan. They got their first point of the half in the 42nd minute through substitute Elsie McEvoy. Gilmartin (free) and another sub Katie Hughes followed up with much needed points for the Ulster county. They had chances after that but kicked wides after being put under pressure by the Tipp defence.

After 22 minutes without a point Compa kicked over a neat point in the 56th minute. Leahy sealed the win with a point near the end.

Tipperary: Maeve Cummins (Rockwell Rovers); Aoife Mason (Ardfinnan), Moya Grey (Templemore), Niamh Dunphy (Clonmel Commercials); Leah O’Connell (Boherlahan-Dualla), Meabh Lonergan (Rockwell Rovers), Patrycja Marcinek (Arravale Rovers); Gemma-Mai Barrett (Ardfinnan), Holly Murphy (Clonmel Commercials); Faye O’Dwyer (Arravale Rovers 1-2, 0-1f), Farrah Madigan (Clonmel Commercials 1-1), Roisin Browne (Moyle Rovers 0-2); Claire Dennehy (Clonmel Commercials), Sarah O’Sullivan (Rosegreen), Sinead Nugent (Galtee Rovers).

Subs used: Klaudia Compa (Clonmel Commercials 1-2), Anna Leahy (Lattin Cullen/Emly 0-1), Niamh Hyland (Cahir), Kate Browne-Souza (Rosegreen), Emma O’Shea (Galtee Rovers), Mia Cody (Sliabh na mBan).

Cavan: Caitlin Nolan; Ella Gilsenan, Nadine McKenna, Aoife Leddy; Isobel Wynne, Andie Ford Peat, Ciara Rudden; Sophie Lyons, Riona Crowe; Aoife O’Reilly, Freya Caffrey, Laila Cooney (1-0 pen); Pearl Gilmartin (0-3, 2f), Aine Harney, Saoirse McNulty.

Subs used: Elsie McEvoy (0-1), Lara Cosgrove, Katie Hughes (0-1), Isla Murphy, Kiera McEnroe, Lauren McDaid, Lily Ferguson.

Referee: Conor McCarthy (Cork).