Brave Tipp miss out on All-Ireland final berth

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

Cork 2-13

Tipperary 1-10

Report: Joe Scully

at the Cork Camogie Grounds

Tipperary’s reign as All-Ireland Minor ‘A’ Camogie champions came to an end after a gallant effort in defeat to Cork in the semi-final on Saturday.

Over the hour, Tipperary can have few complaints about the result as Cork were the better side, although the six point winning margin, might have been a bit harsh on the Premier ladies.

The game was in the melting pot with just three points in it as the clock entered the final minute of normal time when a goal by Cork’s Jess Murphy following a good advantage from referee Fintan McNamara, proved to be the killer blow.

Tipperary will look back on certain points of the game where they made the wrong decision or missed a couple of goal chances, but overall, they were second best, as Cork particularly in defence were strong, with Saoirse Cunningham shining, and captain Rachel Murphy staring in attack.

For Tipperary, Ciara Cahill had a superb game at full forward along with Sarah McLoughlin and Caoimhe Stakelum, as the rest of the forwards struggled to get any change out of a top-class Cork back six.

The year ends in disappointment, but they can be very proud of the effort they have put in all year, losing just one game, this semi-final. Although some of the squad will be overage next year, a large number will still be available, and that will stand them in good health for another tilt at All-Ireland glory in 2026.

The game got off to a slow start with both sides feeling each other out, and the first real chance came in the seventh minute when Caoimhe Stakelum bore down on goal but was denied by a great hook by the aforementioned Cunningham, the follow-up shot by Stakelum lacked any real power and was easily saved by Cork keeper Anna Kearney.

Two minutes later, Stakelum opened the scoring with a close range free, but from the resulting puckout, Cork’s Maebh O’Brien found herself in possession after a Tipp defender missed a catch and she slotted over.

A minute later, the away side were awarded a free thirty metres out, and Caoimhe Stakelum stood over it, and to the surprise of all including the Cork defence she blasted the ball to the back of the net.

After this, the home side would start to take a stranglehold on proceedings, playing some fine camogie, hitting the next six scores in a ten minute spell. Clara Murphy got the first out by the sideline, before Catherine Murphy and Rachel Murphy added fine scores. Next was a free from Shona Cronin which was originally waved wide, but after advice from his line-umpire, the referee after consultation with the umpires awarded the score. Rachel Murphy added another, after a fine run and finish before Cronin added her sides seventh point in the 23rd minute from a 45 after Tara Goulding had a shot brilliantly saved by Danielle Butler in the Tipp goal.

Tipp would respond with a fine Stakelum effort, and then Rachel Murphy and Stakelum traded points to leave Cork ahead 0-8 to 1-3 after 26 minutes.

As was so often the case in the game after a Tipp score, Cork responded with one of their own and this time it was in the form of a goal from Tara Goulding, after a shot from Clara Murphy dropped short and Danielle Butler dropped the ball, with Goulding was in hand to tap into the net.

Tipp didn’t let that goal affect them, and three unanswered points, all from Stakelum with two frees and a 45, to leave the score at 1-8 to 1-6 at the break.

The second half was a tight, cagey affair, with both sides trading points for most of it. Seven minutes into the half and Tipp had the gap back to a point through another 45 from Stakelum, before Ava McAuliffe opened the scoring for the Rebelettes two minutes later.

Stakelum added another for her side before Rachel Murphy hit two-in-a-row to leave three in it with fifteen minutes left. Isobel O’Donnell reduced the gap to two after a fine team move less than a minute later.

Ava McAuliffe added another two minutes later to leave Cork three ahead with just over ten minutes to play. Both sides would go hard at it over the final ten minutes, but neither could find a way through, until Jess Murphy found herself through on goal and finished emphatically to the net in the 60th minute to finally kill off a brave Tipp challenge.

Cork sub Ciara Kelleher added another point in stoppage time before Maeve Cunneen pointed with the final score of the game as Tipp’s quest for two in a row came to an end with Cork progressing to the final against Kilkenny.

TEAMS - Cork: Anna Kearney (6), Ally McGrath (7), Laoise Ahern (7), Saoirse Cunningham (9), Millie Lombard (6), Caoilainn Ryan (7), Aisling Cussen (6), Jess Murphy (8), Catherine Murphy (7), Rachel Murphy (9), Ava McAuliffe (8). Clara Murphy (7), Shona Cronin (6), Tara Goulding (7), Maebh O’Brien (7).

Subs: Ally Mulkerrins (7) for Cronin (40); Ciara Kelleher (6) for Goulding (50); Kate O’Sullivan (NR) for O’Brien (60+1).

Tipperary: Danielle Butler (Eire Og Annacarty/D 6); Leah Maher (Boherlahan-Dualla 6), Sarah McLoughlin (Boherlahan-Dualla 8), Leanna Coppinger (Thurles Sarsfields 7); Emma Kennedy (Lorrha 7), Isobel O’Donnell (Brian Borus 7), Eva Ralph (Moycarkey/Borris 6); Rachael O’Meara (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone 6), Clodagh Grimes (Newport/Ballinahinch 6); Caoimhe Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields 8), Lucy O’Brien (St Patrick’s 6), Elana McGrath (Holycross/Ballycahill 6); Doireann Ryan (Boherlahan-Dualla 6), Ciara Cahill (Drom & Inch 9), Maeve Cunneen (Silvermines 7).

Subs: Izzy Carr (Holycross/Ballycahill 6) for McGrath (46), Lucy Heffernan (Eire Og Annacarty/D 6) for O’Brien (49), Kate Dowling (Moycarkey/Borris NR) for Grimes (60).

Referee: Fintan McNamara (Clare).