Tipperary pipped at the post by Kilkenny in Very National Camogie League

Kilkenny 0-14 Tipperary 0-13

Tipperary are relying on pacesetters Cork to do them a big favour if their dream of participating in a first national final since 2009 is to be realised. 

Denis Kelly’s side were left shellshocked this afternoon, as two injury-time points from Denise Gaule snatched a 0-14 to 0-13 triumph for Kilkenny in a hard-fought Very Camogie League Division 1A tie at UPMC Nowlan Park. 

Gaule converted a free to win the All-Ireland final last August and she wasn’t found wanting once more when presented with two opportunities at the death. 

Tipp had their fate in their own hands and a victory would have sealed their place in the decider but they can now be overhauled by Galway, if the defending champions can secure a draw at Páirc Uí Chaoimh tomorrow. 

There was never much between the sides in a real dogfight, with the teams level on nine occasions. 

Tipp got the better start with points from Eimear McGrath and Eimear Heffernan.

Julianne Malone and Sophie O’Dwyer, who scored eight points between them, brought Kilkenny back level and it was nip and tuck before O’Dwyer delivered from a free to make it 0-5 to 0-4 for the home team. 

Defences were definitely on top, but one player enjoying herself was Heffernan, the Knockavilla/Donaskeigh Kickhams forward carrying on the good form with UCC that earned her a Third Level All-Star to finish with three points. 

The second of those started a run of four points in seven minutes that moved Tipp 0-9 to 0-7 clear. Gaule (free) and Malone replied, and there was a further exchange of scores before Cáit Devane and Heffernan provided apparently significant separation with 52 minutes gone. 

Again Brian Dowling’s team dug deep via a pair of Gaule scores.

McGrath looked to have grasped a famous win with her fourth point in the third minute of injury time, but that was to reckon without the nerveless Gaule, who brought her tally to five and enabled Kilkenny to finish a largely forgettable campaign in the best possible manner.