Tipperary camogie club win historic minor title with impressive performance

FBD Insurance County Minor C Championship Final

Slieve Felim Raparees 3-6

Shannon Rovers 1-3

The first of the FBD Insurance Minor Championship finals was decided on Sunday at the County Camogie Grounds, where Slieve Felim Raparees claimed a 3-6 to 1-3 victory over Shannon Rovers.

The game exploded into life with a blistering opening quarter, and Slieve Felim couldn’t have asked for a better start. 

Just 48 seconds in, Brid Woodlock embarked on a powerful run, delivering a pinpoint pass to Alice Butler, who blasted the ball into the roof of the net. Moments later, Annie Phelan added a superb point from a free, and Slieve Felim’s relentless momentum continued.

Barely a minute after the first goal, Woodlock was at it again, this time needing no support as she powered through the defence and struck a stunning goal. Shannon Rovers found themselves under immense pressure, desperately needing a response. 

Clodagh Cahalan stepped up with a surging run through the middle before delivering the ball into the Slieve Felim square. 

A goalmouth scramble ensued, and Elaine Cleary eventually forced the ball over the line, offering a lifeline to her side.

However, any hopes of a Shannon Rovers comeback were short-lived. Just two minutes later, Woodlock’s blistering pace and athleticism proved unstoppable once again. 

Breaking down the wing, she unleashed another ferocious strike, burying her second goal of the match and giving Slieve Felim an emphatic lead of 3-01 to a 1-0 after just 12 minutes.

Nicola Kelly’s well-taken point from a free in the 14th minute narrowed the gap slightly. Despite this, Slieve Felim continued to dominate the remainder of the first half. 

Alice Butler was a standout performer in the corner-forward position, while Annie Phelan was clinical from placed balls, adding two more points before the break. By half-time, Slieve Felim had established a commanding 3-4 to 1-1 lead.

The second half, however, painted a much different picture. Shannon Rovers regrouped impressively, with their defence taking control and successfully nullifying the Slieve Felim goal threat. 

Although Slieve Felim added two points—one from Alice Butler and another free from Annie Phelan—they were largely kept in check by a resolute Rovers defence.

The defensive efforts of Shannon Rovers were led by Clodagh Davies and Ava Young, who battled tirelessly, supported by the impressive Cahalan sisters—Áine, Clodagh, and Meabh. The Shannon Rovers' resilience and determination prevented any further damage on the scoreboard and ensured a much more evenly contested second half. 

The Slieve Felim defence was also on top however in the second half and Shannon Rovers struggled to make any real in-roads in closing the game and only managed two second-half points of their own one a Nicola Kelly free and a point from play from Makenzie Simmons. 

As the clock ticked down they went in search of goals but Molly Carr, Caoimhe McCormack and Sarah Brennan all stood up to the challenge to help lead the Raparees to a very memorable victory. 

Shannon Rovers: Margaret Cleary; Aoibhín O' Gara, Anna Kennedy, Jane Costello; Áine Cahalan, Emma Costello, Shauna Gantly; Clodagh Davis, Ava Young; Ally Mulvihill, Nicola Kelly (0-2f), Clodagh Cahalan; Meabh Cahalan, Makenzie Simmons (0-1), Elaine Cleary (1-0).

Slieve Felim Raparees: Molly Carr; Aimèe Johnson, Caoimhe McCormack, Aibhlín Kennedy; Zara Cosgrove, Sarah Brennan, Abbey Challen; Jessie Shanahan, Bríd Woodlock (2-0); Hazel Ryan, Michelle Lee, Anna Carr; Alice Butler (1-3), Annie Phelan (0-3f), Emma Corbett.

Subs used: Tara Johnson, Molly McLoughlin, Mairead O’Donoghue.