Kilkenny Camogie Minors denied league win by late Tipperary free
Kilkenny 0-12 Tipperary 1-9
By Tom Egan
Kilkenny minor camogie girls had to settle for a share of the spoils after a close fought encounter against near neighbours Tipperary last Sunday in Dunmore. This match was a repeat of last year’s All Ireland minor semifinal where eventual All Ireland champions Tipperary edged Kilkenny in a very close match after extra time so a tight game was again anticipated in this second round league match – Kilkenny having opened with a win against Dublin while Tipperary shared the spoils with Cork.
Conditions were good on a calm Sunday afternoon and the Kilkenny girls opened brightly with a Lucy Boyd free before Tipperary’s Lucy O’Brien levelled proceedings in the fourth minute. Kilkenny then went on the offensive and scored the next four points. This started with a fine Ciara O’Shea point from play after fielding a long puckout from Jenny Saunders and this was followed by a smart point from play by Emily Phelan who looked lively despite having played in a schools final the previous day. Further points came from frees from Lucy Boyd and Ona Kennedy to stretch the lead to 0-5 to 0-1 and this lead could have been greater if Molly Conroy’s close range effort for a goal had not been denied by the Tipp defenders. Further Kilkenny points from Lucy Boyd from play and Molly Conroy saw the lead stretch to 0-7 to 0-2 after twenty minutes but Tipperary were now settling to their task with the imposing Caoimhe Stakelum started to influence proceedings. A fine run from Caoimhe set up Elana McGrath for a goal in the 23rd minute and all of a sudden the lead was down to a point (0-7 KK to 1-3 T). Both sides traded points before the half time break (Molly Conroy KK, Caoimhe Stakelum free T) to leave the half time score at 0-8 to 1-4 for the home side. This scoreline somewhat flattered Tipperary who were on the back foot for much of this half and suggested that a tight second half was in store.
The second half proved to be a much lower scoring affair with both defences on top for large periods and scores increasingly hard to come by. Both sides added two points in the opening ten minutes of the half – Kilkenny scores coming from Niamh Davis and a Lucy Boyd free after a fine run by Rachel Phelan but Tipperary countered with scores from Elana McGrath and a Caoimhe Stakelum free. This pattern continued into the closing quarter – Tipperary drew level with a good score from the improving Rachel O’Meara but Kilkenny held firm and two scores from Lucy Boyd (free) and Niamh Davis against one from Caoimhe Stakelum saw Kilkenny hold a narrow one point lead as the clock approached full time. Every ball was frantically fought for at this time and unfortunately for Kilkenny, the concession of a late free gave Caoimhe Stakelum the chance to level the match and a fine finish by her from long range saw the match finish level at full-time.
For Kilkenny, the match represented the first real test of 2025 and they mixed periods of very good play with periods where they struggled to maintain momentum against well balanced opponents. On a day where defenders largely held sway, they were served by all members of their defence while further afield, Eleanor Doheny, Lucy Boyd, Emily Phelan and Niamh Davis had their moments. Tipperary were best served by their backline unit while Rachel O’Meara, Caoimhe Stakelum, Lucy O’Brien and Elana McGrath impressed in their forwards. The draw keeps both sides firmly in the mix for the knockout stages and it all comes down to the last round robin matches with Kilkenny away to Cork next Saturday afternoon.
Kilkenny: Jenny Saunders, Caoimhe Power, Grace Brennan, Jessica Smith, Rebecca Hayden, Ona Kennedy, Taylor Aylward, Rachel Phelan, Eleanor Doheny, Lucy Boyd, Ciara O’Shea, Aisling O’Sullivan, Emily Phelan, Niamh Davis, Molly Conroy.
Tipperary: Danielle Butler, Sarah McLoughlin, Molly Loughnane, Leanna Coppinger, Clodagh Grimes, Isabel O’Donnell, Eva Ralph, Rachel O’Meara, Emma Kennedy, Caoimhe Stakelum, Lucy O’Brien, Elana McGrath, Eimhear Troy, Caiara Cahill, Maeve Cunneen.
Referee: Donnacha O’Callaghan
