Tipp Minors make perfect start with Kilkenny win
CAMOGIE: Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor ‘A’ Championship Round 1
Tipperary 3-10
Kilkenny 2-7
Tipperary got their All-Ireland Minor Championship campaign off to the best possible start with an impressive win over age-old rivals Kilkenny at Sean Treacy Park, Kilcommon on Sunday.
In a highly anticipated opening round clash, the stage was set for a captivating showdown between two provincial winners, and the match did not disappoint.
The sides were evenly matched in the opening quarter with scores difficult to come by as both defences dominated. With seventeen minutes gone Tipp’s sole score had come from a Caoimhe Stakelum point while Kilkenny’s Tara Roche well struck shot off the ground found the back of the Tipp net.
The game began to open up in the second quarter with Ciara O’Shea (0-3, 1 free), Katie Brennan and Angela Carroll all registering fine scores for the visitors. Tipperary also began to get the scoreboard ticking with Danielle Ryan and Ciara Shelly carrying on their good form from the Munster championship with points while Hannah Butler scored a goal and a point in succession to leave the half time score 1-5 to 1-4 in Kilkenny’s favour at the break.
However, Tipperary emerged from the break with renewed vigour and determination. Goals from Lucy Purcell and Caoimhe Stakelum helped to put John Ryan’s team into the driving seat and they finished the half strongly, outscoring the visitors to run out six point winners.
Despite the performance being far from a polished display there was plenty of positives for John Ryan’s management team to take away including a spread of nine different scorers with two substitutes Elana McGrath and Eimhear Troy making an impact with a point each.
Limiting Kilkenny to just 1-2 in the second half was also a big plus and a testament to the strength of the defence and the overall workrate of the team.
Several standout performances were key to Tipperary's victory, with players such as Caithlyn Treacy, Ciara Shelly, Caoimhe Stakelum, and Hannah Butler delivering stellar displays.
Next up is an away trip to Galway this Sunday. Galway enjoyed an opening round victory over Waterford and will sure to be very stiff opposition.
Player of the Match: Hannah Butler (Tipperary).
Tipperary: Danielle Butler (Eire Og Annacarty); Paula Quirke (Boherlahan-Dualla), Aoife Mellerick (Newport/Ballinahinch), Ellie Franklin (Moyle Rovers); Eabha Dolan (Moyle Rovers), Sarah Corcoran (Moycarkey/Borris), Caithlyn Treacy (Moneygall 0-1); Lucy Heffernan (Eire Og Annacarty), Emer Dwan (Cashel King Cormacs), Lucy Purcell (Thurles Sarsfields 1-0), Danielle Ryan (Eire Og Annacarty 0-2), Ciara Shelly (Moycarkey/Borris 0-1); Ava Bevans (Borris-Ileigh 0-1), Caoimhe Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields 1-2, 0-1f), Hannah Butler (Cashel King Cormacs 1-1).
Subs: Aine Dooley (St Cronan’s) for Dwan, Elana McGrath (Holycross/Ballycahill 0-1) for Heffernan; Eimhear Troy (Toomevara 0-1) for Bevans.
Kilkenny: Rachel Moloney; Rachel Phelan, Una Duggan, Orlaith Kirwan; Emily Smith, Anna Doheny, Angela Carroll (0-1); Ambar Laherty, Ciara O’Shea (0-4, 3f); Ciara Dunne, Shona Ruane, Aisling Browne; Tara Roche (1-0), Katie Brennan (0-1), Niamh Davis.
Subs used: Julie Lennon (0-1), Aoife Shealy (1-0).
Referee: John Dermody (Westmeath)