Munster Minor A Final

Tipperary 1-13 

Waterford 0-09

Tipperary are Munster Minor A champions for 2024 after seeing off a tough challenge from Waterford in Walsh Park on Sunday. John Ryan’s team overcame a slow start which saw them trailing 4 points to no score after 12 minutes to run out deserving winners on a final scoreline of 1-13 to 0-09. Playing with the aid of a strong wind Waterford looked really threatening early on with Emma Fitzgerald and Maggie Gostl putting them into an early lead. This was Waterford’s real purple patch and they will regret not having scored more as they hit a number of wides which proved very costly in the end. 

It was 13 minutes before Tipp registered their first score thanks to a Lucy Heffernan point from play. By now the Tipp management team had made a number of positional switches and these really began to work as Coaimhe Stakelum and Danielle Ryan both began to exert their presence on the game. Three brilliantly executed frees by Caoimhe had Tipp back on level terms but by the 18th minute. And by the 20th minute Tipperary were 3 points clear. Caoimhe Stakelum gathered possession and was baring down on goal before forcing Katelyn Gardner to pull off an excellent save. The rebound fell to Caoimhe and she connected on it beautifully to pull on the ball to the back of the net to the delight of the travelling supporters. Caoimhe then hit 2 more points in succession from a free and play before Danielle Ryan pointed to extend Tipp’s lead. Waterford finished the half well with 2 points to leave the half time score 1-07 to 6 points. With the wind advantage to come Tipperary were in a commanding position going into the second half. However they didn’t get it all their own way as Waterford continued to battle hard feeding plenty of ball into their danger woman Maggie Gostl. Gostl used all her pace and skill to win key possession in the second half but Paula Quirke did a superb job marking her tightly and making sure she didn’t get in for a goal. The Tipperary defensive unit as a whole was brilliant with Sarah Corcoran leading from centre back while Danielle Butler was very assured and steady in the goals. Maggie Gostl and Caoimhe Stakelum exchanged frees early in the second half while Lucy Purcell and Ciara Shelly who worked hard throughout both got on the scoresheet. After the game captain Sarah Corcoran accepted the winning trophy from Munster chairperson Christine Ryan while player of the match award was awarded to Caoimhe Stakelum. 

Tipperary: Danielle Butler, Paula Quirke, Aoife Mellerick, Ellie Franklin, Eabha Dolan, Sarah Corcoran, Cairthlyn Treacy, Lucy Heffernan(0-01), Emer Dwan, Lucy Purcell(0-01), Danielle Ryan (0-01), Ciara Shelly(0-01), Ava Bevans, Caoimhe Stakelum(1-09, 7 frees, 1 45m), Hannah Butler

Subs uses: Elana McGrath for Lucy Heffernana, Aoife Fitzgerald for Ava Bevans, Eimear Troy for Ciara Shelly

Waterford: Katelyn Gardner, Katie O’neill, Anne McGoldrick, Cara Cantwell, Holly O’Sullivan, Alex Healy, Abbie Burrows, Ali Ferguson, Hannah McGrath, Eimear O’Neill, Nimah Ryan, Katelyn Lyons, Emma Fitzgerald, Ava Fitzpatrick, Maggie Gostl