Munster glory for Tipp 16’s

CAMOGIE: Munster Under 16 ‘A’ Championship Final

Tipperary 2-15

Cork 2-6

Report: Geraldine Kinane in Mahon

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Maria Groome (Tipperary)

SCORERS - Tipperary: Lily Ivors 0-9 (7 frees); Maria Groome 2-2; Saili O’Connor, Olivia Looby, Lucy Lee, Aoife O’Donnell 0-1 each.

Cork: Alannah Murphy, Eabha Lynch 1-0 each, Isabelle O’Callaghan 0-4 frees; Lauren McAuliffe (free), Simone Fitzgerald 0-1 each.

Tipperary were crowned Munster Under 16 ‘A’ Camogie champions on Saturday after a fantastic all-round team display against Cork.

Right from the off, Tipperary looked the hungrier and sharper of the two sides. Playing with the wind, the damage was done in the first half and by the break Tipp were 1-10 to 0-2 in front.

Tipp delivered a commanding performance, producing an outstanding display from start to finish, with a rock-solid defence restricting the Cork forwards to very limited scoring opportunities throughout.

Taylor Corbett was superb at wing back while Katelyn Creedon dominated at full back. Up front, Lily Ivors proved a constant menace in attack, but the standout performer was Maria Groome, who was a deserved player of the match. The half-forward was superb from the first whistle and finished with an impressive tally of 2-2 from play.

Lily Ivors opened the scoring for the visitors from a free, with Saili O’Connor and Olivia Looby also on target as Tipp made a confident start.

Cork’s first score came from an Isabelle O’Callaghan free but Tipp continued to make the wind advantage count with Ivors and Groome adding points to give them a 0-6 to 0-1 lead after twenty minutes. Maria Groome then struck for the game’s first goal with a superb finish to extend Tipp’s lead before Lily Ivors added two more points as Cork struggled to get to grips with the intensity of the Premier attack. A great save from Sinead Delaney and further accuracy from free-taker Ivors meant Tipperary enjoyed an eleven point advantage at half time.

Tipp showed no sign of slowing down in the second half. Lily Ivors and Lauren McAuliffe exchanged points before substitute Lucy Ann Cleary went on an excellent run and fed the ball through to Maria Groome who finished to the net on her second attempt after her original shot was saved. This extended Tipperary’s lead to 2-12 to 0-3.

The Tipp management were able to use all eight subs and each player made an impact as everyone vied for a starting jersey come the All-Ireland series.

Credit to Cork they showed great determination in the second half with Alanah Murphy raising a green flag and Isabelle O’Callaghan and Simone Fitzgerald adding points to reduce the deficit. Despite a second Cork goal from Eabha Lynch, Tipperary remained in control and hungry to the end with Aoife O’Donnell pointing to seal a nine point win, and a first Munster U16 ‘A’ title in a number of years for the premier county.

TEAMS – Tipperary: Sinead Delaney (Templemore); Grainne Troy (Toomevara), Katelyn Creedon (Thurles Sarsfields), Tara Maher (Borris-Ileigh); Kate Duffy (Burgess/Duharra), Evie Ahern (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone), Taylor Corbett (Gortnahoe/Glengoole); Caoimhe Kennedy (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Aoife O’Donnell (Boherlahan-Dualla); Melaine Flannery (Cahir, Capt), Molly Jones (Moyne-Templetuohy), Maria Groome (Borris-Ileigh); Olivia Looby (Borris-Ileigh), Saili O’Connor (Nenagh Eire Og), Lily Ivors (Ballingarry).

Subs: Lucy-Anne Cleary (Nenagh Eire Og) for Jones (39), Lucy Lee (Newport/Ballinahinch) for Flannery (39), Meabh Lonergan (Rockwell Rovers) for S O’Connor (47), Rona O’Connor (Brian Borus) for Duffy (53), Ashling Cully (Cashel King Cormacs) for Ahern (53), Aoife Ryan (Borris-Ileigh) for Looby (55), Mae Kennedy (Boherlahan-Dualla) for Ivors (55), Lorna Ryan (Templemore) for Troy (55).

Cork: Kayleigh Murphy; Emma Dennehy, Ali McCarthy (Capt), Liadh Sheehan; Kate O’Mahoney, Eabha Lynch, Lara Daly; Evelyn Rath, Saidhbhin Carey Ni Loingsigh; Orla O’Brien, Lauren McAuliffe, Aine Coughlan; Clodagh Walsh, Chiara Leahy, Isabelle O’Callaghan.

Subs: Saoirse Gilmore for Coughlan (29); Ailbhe Byerley for Leahy (29); Abby Keane for Sheehan (29), Alannah Murphy for O’Brien (HT), Aisling Ryan for Daly (34), Ava Kenneally for McAuliffe (43), Simone Fitzgerald for Walsh (50), Ellie Cafferkey for O’Mahoney (55).

Referee: Philip Dee (Limerick)