PREVIEW: Tipperary minors one game away from claiming All-Ireland title

All-Ireland Minor A Camogie Championship Final

Tipperary V Waterford, Saturday April 27th, in UPMC Nowlan Park @ 2.30 pm

All roads lead to UPMC Nowlan Park this Saturday for the eagerly anticipated meeting between Tipperary and Waterford in the Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor A Final.

The clash is part of a doubleheader on the day with Dublin and Wexford meeting in the Shield final first at 2.30 pm.
Tipperary started their year brilliantly with a win over Cork in the Munster semi-final.

They then went on to defeat Waterford in the final on a scoreline of 1-13 to 0-9 in Walsh Park. Managed by John Ryan of Slieve Felim Raparees the team went on to win their opening three games of the All-Ireland series against Kilkenny, Galway, and Antrim to book their place in an All-Ireland semi-final. In the final two group games, they suffered defeats to Cork and Waterford by 2-7 to 1-6.

Tipperary needed extra time to finally see off an excellent Kilkenny challenge in last weekend’s semi-final. At the end of normal time, the sides were level 1-10 apiece. Lucy Purcell scored a crucial injury time point to bring it to extra time while Caoimhe Stakelum scored Tipperary’s only goal of the game in the first half.

Tipperary were the better of the two teams in extra time winning on a final scoreline of 1-15 to 1-12 with Caoimhe Stakelum finishing with 1-09 (7 frees), Sarah Corcoran (0-01), Lucy Heffernan (0-2) Lucy Purcell (0-2). While Danielle Ryan was awarded Player of the Match.

Tipperary are captained by Moycarey Borris’s Sarah Corcoran who is a superb talent and leader operating at centre back. Waterford’s win over Tipperary in the final group game meant they nabbed fourth place in the group.

In the group games, they suffered defeats to Kilkenny and Galway, drew with Cork, and bet Antrim and Tipperary. In Saturday’s All-Ireland semi-final, they trailed Cork 0-8 to 0-7 at the break.

In the second half goals from Rebecca Farrell and Eimear O’Neill put them in front but Cork responded with a goal of their own.

Only a goal separated the sides heading into injury time but a Maggie Gostl penalty secured the win and the game ended 3-9 to 1-10.

Maggie Gostl finished the game with 1-7, Molly Kearney (0-1), Eimear O’Neill (1-1) and Rebecca Farrell (1-0). While centre back Holly O’Sullivan won player of the match.

The team is managed by Mark English and it is their second successive appearance in a Minor All-Ireland final having lost last year’s final to Cork