Tipperary clinch dramatic one-point victory in Dublin to keep All-Ireland hopes intact

Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Championship

Tipperary 1-13

Dublin 1-12

Tipperary made the journey to Dublin on Sunday for Round 3 of the Electric Ireland Minor Championship, determined to respond after their Round 2 defeat to Kilkenny.

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They achieved that objective, but only after a battling performance that saw them cling on for a dramatic one-point victory against a resilient Dublin side.

With a strong wind at their backs in the opening half, Tipperary would have hoped to build an early cushion. Instead, it was Dublin who struck first, Sadhbh McCann opening the scoring. 

Boherlahan Dualla’s Neasa Dwan settled Tipp with their first point, but Dublin regained the advantage through Erin Dunne as the early exchanges remained tightly contested.

Two well-taken placed balls from the in-form Abbie Horgan edged Tipperary in front before the game’s pivotal first-half moment arrived. 

A long-range free from Grace Cleary found Abbie Horgan, who finished superbly to the net, giving Tipperary a firm foothold in the contest.

Dublin responded impressively with points from their lively forward line, either side of an excellent long-distance effort from Grace Cleary. 

Playing with the elements, Tipperary goalkeeper Erin O’Donnell made full use of the breeze, driving massive puck-outs deep into Dublin territory and keeping the home defence under sustained pressure.

Horgan continued to punish indiscipline with two further frees, but Dublin refused to fade, with Clodagh Glennon accurate from placed balls to keep her side in touch. 

The half could easily have produced more goals — Dublin had one effort ruled out, while Mia Clarkin produced a fine save to deny Isabelle Kingston. Horgan converted the resulting 45 and added another point before the break to leave Tipperary 1-9 to 0-6 ahead at half-time.

The second half began with both sides trading scores, Evanne Duffy raising a white flag for Tipp alongside another Horgan free. However, with the wind now favouring the hosts, Dublin struck a crucial goal to cut the deficit to four and shift the momentum.

Two unanswered Dublin points narrowed the margin to two points, 1-10 to 1-8, as Tipperary struggled to stem the tide. Under mounting pressure, they desperately needed a response. Neasa Dwan delivered with a vital score, quickly followed by another composed Horgan free to stretch the lead once more.

Kate Keany slotted a free to narrow the gap. Dublin continued to press and reduced it to two before Horgan again split the posts from a placed ball. Despite that, possession and territory were increasingly Dublin’s in the closing stages.

Two late points brought the sides to within one, 1-13 to 1-12, setting up a nervy finale. The referee played seven minutes of additional time, and Tipperary were forced into a rearguard action. 

With their backs firmly against the wall, they defended heroically, while O’Donnell produced crucial saves as Dublin poured forward in search of a winning score.

In the end, Tipperary held out by the narrowest of margins — a hard-earned and character-building victory that keeps their championship ambitions on track.

Tipperary: Erin O’Donnell; Eimear Ryan, Kate Nevin, Evanne Gleeson; Grace Cleary (0-1), Ciara Cahill, Eva Ralph; Emma Bonnar, Evanne Duffy (0-1); Abbie Horgan (1-9, 0-6f, 0-2 45s), Ailbhe Treacy, Doireann Ryan; Isabelle Kingston, Neasa Dwan (0-2), Grace Stapleton.

Subs used: Kaelinn Rossiter for Grace Stapleton; Ella Frend for Grace Cleary; Sara Jayne Ormond for Isabelle Kingston.

Dublin: Mia Clarkin; Emma Ryan, Lucy Brady, Roisin Nolan; Eadaoin McClean, Ava O’Neill, Aoibhinn O’Gorman; Reka Kiss Kallo (0-1), Jocelyn Hanks; Clodagh Glennon (0-3f), Juliette Harford, Erin Dunne (0-1); Sadhbh McCann (0-1), Kate Keaney (0-2, 0-1f), Clodagh Hogan.

Referee: Bernard Heaney (Meath)

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