Holycross Ballycahill are minor A Champions

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August 09, 2025

FBD Insurance Minor A Final

 

Holycross Ballycahill 4-12

Slieve Felim Raparees 3-10 

 

Last Wednesday evening, Holycross Ballycahill were crowned FBD Insurance Minor A County Champions after a thrilling encounter with Slieve Felim Raparees at the Tipperary County Camogie Grounds.

Playing with the aid of a strong breeze in the opening period, Holycross settled quickly and took the lead after just four minutes when Elana McGrath opened the scoring. The early exchanges were tightly contested and 2 Annie Phelan frees helped put Slieve Felim into the lead. But Holycross gradually began to make their wind advantage count and Sarah Quinlan struck for the first of her hattrick of goals after 13 minutes to spark a period of Holycross dominance.


A powerful run from captain Issy Carr out of defence resulted in a fine score, while further points from Elana McGrath and Sarah Quinlan extended their lead. Slieve Felim kept in touch through a pointed free from Abbie Phelan, but McGrath replied with a well-struck ’45 before Eimear Duggan’s composed finish found the net, putting Holycross 2-5 to 0-3 ahead after 21 minutes.


Moments later, Sophie Lee and Quinlan combined superbly, with Quinlan rifling the ball into the back of the net. Duggan followed up with a point, and Slieve Felim looked in real trouble at 3-6 to 0-3.


However, the Raparees rallied before the interval. Alice Butler struck a vital goal and added a fine point, the latter coming after an excellent team move involving Abbey Challen and Brid Woodlock, leaving the half-time score at 3-6 to 1-4 in Holycross Ballycahill’s favour.


Slieve Felim burst into life after the restart with the wind now at their backs. Few could have predicted the turnaround as fullforward Alice Butler netted twice in quick succession—on 31 and 35 minutes—before adding another point. Michelle Lee tied the game at 3-06 apiece after 42 minutes.  Remarkably Slieve Felim found themselves in front by the 43rd minute thanks to a superb long distance score by Annie Phelan to cap off a superb purple patch that had Holycross on the back foot.

The champions-elect needed a response, and it came from substitute Sasha O’Keeffe, whose crucial score on 48 minutes sparked a revival. Elana McGrath followed with a point, and moments later Quinlan struck for her third goal of the day to swing the momentum back in Holycross’s favour. Izzy Carr added her second point before the hard working Annie Phelan replied with a free for Slieve Felim.  McGrath then split the posts again, though Phelan added two more frees to keep her side in touch. However Holycross had the final say with 2 pointed frees from Elana McGrath to seal a 4-12 to 3-10 victory. Both frees in the dying minutes were won by the impressive Sarah Quinlan who was a constant thorn in the Slieve Felim defence.

This was a superb team performance from Holycross, who absorbed the Slieve Felim fightback early in the second half before finishing strongly. Elana McGrath was a constant threat, while Sarah Quinlan’s hat-trick of goals proved decisive. Sophie Lee shone at centre-forward, while in defence Carr and Louise McGrath excelled. Emily Mills had an outstanding hour in midfield.


For Slieve Felim, Butler and Lee were a dynamic duo in attack, while Orla Pamplin impressed after moving to wing-back. Zara Cosgrove worked tirelessly, and Annie Phelan covered huge ground from start to finish and scored some excellent frees.

 

Holycross Ballycahill: Stella Carr, Louise Doyle, Amber Bannon, Faye Healy, Amy Lee, Louise McGrath, Issy Carr (capt) (0-02), Emily Mills, Niamh Craddock, Ellen Ryan, Sophie Lee, Elana McGrath (0-07, 1 45m, 2 frees), Anna Lanphier, Sarah Quinlan(3-01), Eimear Duggan (1-01)

Subs used: Sasha O’Keefe (0-01), Sara Gleeson


Slieve Felim Raparees: Lara Shanahan, Orla Pamplin, Jessie Shanahan, Molly Carr, Abbey Challen, Sarah Brennan, Zara Cosgrove, Annie Phelan (0-07 frees), Anna Carr, Brid Woodlock, Michelle Lee (0-01), Molly McLoughlin, Mairead O Donoghue, Alice Butler (3-02), Amy Johnson

Subs used: Anna Kennedy