Terrific Tipp Minors start All-Ireland Series in winning fashion

CAMOGIE: Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor ‘A’ Championship Round 1

Tipperary 1-14

Cork 2-6

Report: Geraldine Kinane at MIC Thurles

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Ciara Cahill (Drom & Inch)

SCORERS - Tipperary: Abbie Horgan 0-8 frees; Isabelle Kingston 1-0; Alice Butler 0-2, Emma Bonner, Eva Ralph, Evanne Gleeson, Ailbhe Treacy 0-1 each.

Cork: Lexi Manley 1-2 (0-2 frees), Leah Hannigan 1-1, Clara Murphy 0-3; Ciara Hayes, Caoilainn Ryan, Lea Meillouin 0-1 each.

Tipperary got their All-Ireland Minor ‘A’ Camogie Championship campaign off to a perfect start with a hard-fought two-point victory over a fancied Cork side on Sunday.

The Premier County came into the game buoyed by a comprehensive Shield final win over Clare the previous week. However, Cork were strong favourites, having claimed the Munster Championship defeating Limerick—who had overcome Tipperary in the Munster semi-final.

Cork started brightly, firing over the opening two scores through a free from Lexi Manley and a point from play by Ciara Hayes. Tipperary responded with a free from Abbie Horgan, followed by a fine point from Alice Butler. Horgan and Manley exchanged frees before Clara Murphy nudged Cork back in front after six minutes, 0-4 to 0-3.

Once again, Tipperary replied, with scores from Abbie Horgan and Alice Butler, and on fifteen minutes Horgan landed the equaliser to leave the sides level at 0-5 apiece.

That score sparked a real purple patch for the Premier, as Butler and Emma Bonner both raised white flags from play, before Horgan added another free to stretch the lead to 0-7 to 0-4 by the nineteenth minute.

Cork steadied with points from Clara Murphy and Lea Meillouin, but Tipperary had the final say of the half when wing-back Evanne Gleeson popped up to score, giving Tipp a deserved two-point advantage at the interval, 0-8 to 0-6.

Cork were guilty of several wides but in their defence, they were constantly put under fierce pressure by a resolute Tipperary defence. The Rebels came close to goals on two occasions in quick succession, but a superb hook by Jessie Shanahan on 25 minutes denied Cliona Harte, while a minute later Erin O’Donnell produced an excellent save to preserve Tipp’s advantage at the break.

The second half continued in a similar vein—high in intensity and physicality, with a number of fine individual performances on display. Tipperary started the stronger of the two sides, with Eva Ralph pointing early on, followed by a converted free from Abbie Horgan.

The game’s first goal arrived eight minutes into the half when Isabel Kingston showed great composure to bury the ball in the back of the net. Abbie Horgan followed with another pointed free to extend Tipperary’s advantage, moving them into a commanding 1-11 to 0-6 lead.

However, that the catalyst for a determined Cork fightback who struck back with a goal from Lexi Manley, quickly followed by points from Caoilainn Ryan and Leah Hannigan to haul them back into contention.

Tipperary needed a response, and Abbie Horgan duly delivered, landing a superb free from way out on the sideline to leave it 1-12 to 1-8 as the game entered the final quarter.

Ailbhe Treacy added a point for Tipp, but Cork refused to go away and Hannigan raised a green flag to cut the deficit once more.

Clara Murphy and Abbie Horgan exchanged points, leaving just two between the sides as the clock ticked down and Cork pushed hard in search of a crucial goal.

Once again, however, the Tipperary defence stood firm. Centre-back Ciara Cahill led by example with a fantastic hour’s work, while Ella Frend did an excellent job curbing Cork’s main attacking threat Leah Hannigan.

Full back Kate Nevin impressed in an unfamiliar role at times as she tracked Cork’s full-forward out the field. Emma Bonner and Eva Ralph were outstanding around the middle third, and the Tipp forward line worked tirelessly throughout, with Kaelinn Rossiter making a series of dangerous runs that kept the Cork defence on the back foot.

Next up is a home game against Kilkenny on February 15th. The Cats defeated Dublin 3-11 to 1-7 while Galway overcame Limerick 1-10 to 0-10.

TEAMS – Tipperary: Erin O'Donnell (Moyle Rovers); Eimear Ryan (Gortnahoe/Glengoole), Kate Nevin (Templemore), Ella Frend (Toomevara); Jessie Shanahan (Slieve Felim Rapparees), Ciara Cahill (Drom & Inch (Capt), Evanne Gleeson (Boherlahan-Dualla); Emma Bonner (Cashel King Cormacs), Eva Ralph (Moycarkey/Borris); Alice Butler (Slieve Felim Rapparees), Ailbhe Treacy (Silvermines); Grace Stapleton (Borris-Ileigh); Abbie Horgan (Boherlahan-Dualla), Isabelle Kingston (Kiladangan), Kaelinn Rossiter (Thurles Sarsfields).

Subs: Eavann Duffy (Kiladangan) for Rossiter (21); Doireann Ryan (Boherlahan-Dualla) for Stapleton (45), Grace Cleary (Nenagh Eire Og) for Kingston (56).

Cork: Aoife Collins; Sophie Donohue, Ava Ashman, Tara O'Neill; Ciara Roche, Caoimhe O'Donnell; Millie Lombard (Capt); Caoilainn Ryan; Ciara Hayes; Orla Troy, Lexi Manley, Cliona Harte; Lea Meillouin, Clara Murphy, Leah Hannigan.

Subs: Eimear Barrett for Roche (33), Baithin Cunniffe for Troy (38), Erin Healy for Meillouin (52).

Referee: Alan Doheny (Laois).