Electric Ireland Minor A Championship

Waterford 2-07

Tipperary 1-06

Tipperary suffered a final group game loss to Waterford on Sunday in SETU Arena in Waterford. With their semi-final spot already secured Tipperary were second best to a much hungrier and determined Waterford side who needed a win to finish in the top 4 and claim a semi-final spot. Tipperary finished second in the group behind Cork and will now play third place Kilkenny this Sunday 21st April @ 2pm in Rathdowney GAA. With 20 minutes gone in the opening half the sides were level at 2 points apiece. Eimear O’Neill pointed 2 points in succession from play and a free to give the home side a 2 point lead before the excellent Katelyn Lyons fired home her first of 2 goals to make it 1-04 to 3 points with 27 minutes played. The goal sprung Tipperary into life and they finished the half brilliantly with 1-03 without reply to take a 2 point lead in at the break. Ali O’Kelly scoring a superb goal while Caithyln Treacy made a fine run from wing back to fire over a much-needed point. Unfortunately for Tipperary they never built on this fine spell and in fact they failed to score in the second half as again Waterford emerged the hungrier. Eimear O’Neill pointed 2 frees within minutes of the restart to tie up the game and then a killer blow for Tipperary came in the 44th minute when Katelyn Lyons raised a green flag to put Waterford up 2-06 to 1-06. In a very low scoring final quarter it was the 63rd minute before the next score came in the form of a pointed free from Eimear O’Neill to seal a 4 point win for Waterford to the delight of the home crowd. 

For Tipperary Sarah Corcoran was dominant at centre back while Danielle Ryan played well in midfield. Waterford however were first to all the breaks and their attack were much more threatening throughout. Attention now turns to Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final. Tipperary defeated Kilkenny in the group stages but just like Waterford at the weekend there is no doubt Kilkenny will be out for revenge. John Ryan’s side will be hoping they can get back to winning ways in Rathdowney and book their place in an All-Ireland Final for the following weekend. 

Tipperary: Aoife Gleeson, Paula Quirke, Aoife Mellerick, Ellie Franklin, Eabha Dolan, Sarah Corcoran, Caithyln Treacy(0-01), Leanna Coppinger, Danielle Ryan(0-01),Caoimhe Stakelum(0-03 frees), Lucy Purcell(0-01), Hannah Butler, Sophie Maher, Lucy Heffernan, Ali O’Kelly (1-0)

Subs used: Ciara Shelly for Lucy Heffernan, Emer Dwan for Sophie Maher, Eimhear Troy for Hannah Butler, Aoife Fitzgerald for Lucy Purcell, Ava Gaynor for Ali O’Kelly

Waterford: Katelyn Gardner, Alex Healy, Anna McGodrick, Cara Cantwell, Katie O’Neill, Holly O’Sullivan, Abbie Burrows, Ali Ferguson, Hannah McGrath, Katelyn Lyons(2-0), Molly Kearnery, Rebecca Farrell, Eimear O’Neill(0-04), Maggie Gostl(0-03), Emma Fitzgerald