Brilliant start helps young Tipp camogie team to slay Kilkenny Cats

All-Ireland Under 16 A Camogie Championship

Tipperary 2-18 Kilkenny 3-7 

Tipperary u16s welcomed Kilkenny to the County Camogie grounds in the Ragg Sunday last before sending ‘The Cats’ home with their tails between their legs. After a tough loss to Limerick in Munster the team and management seemed to have learned a lot and were simply brilliant in the first round of the All Ireland u16A championship.

Holycross Ballycahill’s Sarah Quinlan was excellent in the goals, while Kilkenny scored three goals, she pulled off fantastic saves and was confident in her puck outs. Isobel O’Donnell and Ciara Cahill were solid in defence and were ruthless when in possession.

Ciara Cahill was strong going forward and set up the Tipp forwards on numerous occasions. Ava Gaynor of Kilruane MacDonaghs was a hindrance to Kilkenny’s Molly Conroy as she secured two points from play for the Premier county. Danielle Butler brought great physical presence to the Tipperary half forward line and set up club mate Lucy Heffernan for a well worked point.

Tipperary captain Caoimhe Stakelum scored a massive 2-7 with 2-2 coming from play. She set out her stall early with a goal within the opening minutes to get Tipperary off the mark. The goal proved the difference between the sides in the opening quarter with Tipperary leading 1-3 to 0-3 points after 15 minutes.

However a goal five minutes later from the visitors levelled proceedings. Both sides traded scores but Tipperary finished the half the strongest thanks to points from Lucy Heffernan and Lucy O’Brien to leave the half time score 1-7 to 1-4.

Tipperary led by three points at half time but It felt like less as the teams headed for the dressing rooms at half time. While Tipp looked impressive in the first half they raised a gear in the second. Michelle Killeen and Aisling O’Shea both dug deep to try to salvage the game for Kilkenny but they had no answer for the home side. Approaching the three quarter mark Tipperary had stretched their lead to 9 points 1-14 to 1-5 when Kilkenny raised their second green flag. The Tipperary response was excellent though and they again held a 9 point lead thanks to a string of points from free and play from Thurles Sarsfields Caoimhe Stakelum and centre forward Ava Gaynor when Kilkenny got in for their third goal. Caoimhe Stakelum showed her class again though before the final whistle with her and Tipp’s second goal.

While Caoimhe finished as top scorer and played a captains role throughout she was more than well assisted by her teammates who really stood up to the challenge and were brilliant in both defence and attack. 2-18 was excellent scoring and management will definitely be pleased with that but there is still plenty to work on ahead of their second game this Sunday away to Galway.

TEAMS AND SCORERS
Tipperary: Sarah Quinlan, Sarah Mcloughlin, Maura Gleeson, Leanna Coppinger, Clodagh Grimes, Isobelle O’Donnell, Ciara Cahill, Rachel O’Meara, Anna O’Brien, Lucy O’Brien (0-1), Ava Gaynor (0-3), Danielle Butler, Lucy Heffernan (0-4), Caoimhe Stakelum (2-7, 5 frees), Aoibhe Maher (0-2).

Kilkenny: Jenny Saunders, Ella O’Reilly, Shona Ruane, Orla Phelan, Siofra O’Leary, Molly Conroy, Rachel Phelan, Ena Lawlor, Ciara Delaney, Aisling O’Sullivan, Emily Cooney, Michelle Killeen, Aisling O’Shea, Lucy Boyd, Jessica Smith.