All-Ireland Under 16A final
Cork team celebrate their victory over Tipperary in the Tesco All-Ireland Camogie Under 16A Championship Final at Mallow GAA Sports Complex on Sunday.
CORK……………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………………………………………………………….2-18
TIPPERARY……………………………………………………………………..………………………………………………………………………………………………..0-10
Cork retained their All-Ireland Under 16A title after seeing off barnstorming start by Tipperary at Mallow on Sunday. A brace of goals late in the first half proved decisive as it helped the defending champions establish a healthy 2-6 to 0-5 lead at half time.
Tipperary got off to flying start and raced into a 0-3 to 0-0 lead after twelve minutes. Sarah Corcoran from a 45, Danielle Ryan and Corcoran from a free accounting for the Premier’s early trio of minors. Cork’s radar was off in the early stages as they misfired on five occasions but a brace apiece from Kate Hennessy and two Gráinne Finn frees saw the lead change hands.
Caoimhe Stakelum levelled for the Premier before a two-goal blast changed the game. A long range effort from Amy Fitzgerald was batted down by the Tipperary defence and Sarah Murphy who had joined the game as an early substitute reacted fastest to flash the ball to the net. Ava Fitzgerald added a point from a free before Tipperary suffered a second blow when Grainne Finn sent raced on a to a rebound from an Orla Cremin strike and made no mistake in finding the net, 2-6 to 0-5 at half time.
Sarah Corcoran from a free closed the gap soon after the restart but three in a row for the Leesiders from Aoibhinn O’Neill, Kate Fennessy and Amy Shepperd helped Cork open up a nine points lead by the 35th minute.
By the midway point of the half, the lead had been extended to eleven points 2-13 to 0-8 and there was no way back for the Tipperary girls as Cork had a firm grip on proceedings.
Aoibhinn O’Neill, Amy Shepperd, Orla Cremin, substitute Sarah Murphy, Kate Fennessy, Louise O’Neill and Grainne Finn all found the range during Cork’s second half dominance with Tipperary relying on a couple of Sarah Corcoran frees and Nicola Kelly on from play to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Cork were guided to All-Ireland success by Donie Daly, Youghal – manager, John Moloney, Newtownshandrum – coach/selector, Mossy O’Sullivan, Ballincollig – coach/selector, Colette O’Neill, Erin’s Own – Liaison Officer, Roberta Crowley, Ballygarvan – First Aid and Steven O’Mahony, Kinsale – strength and conditioning.
Scorers: Cork: Grainne Finn 1-3, 2fs; Sarah Murphy 1-2; Kate Fennessy 0-4; Ava Fitzgerald 0-3, 1f; Aoibhinn O’Neill, Amy Shepperd 0-2 each; Louise O’Neill, Orla Cremin 0-1 each.
Tipperary: Sarah Corcoran 0-6, 4fs, 2-45; Caoimhe Stakelum 0-2; Danielle Ryan, Nicola Kelly 0-1 each.
Cork: Emma O’Sullivan (Cloughduv); Ciara Rice (Sarsfields), Sinéad Hurley (Sarsfields), Rachel Roche (Sarsfields); Amy O’Riordan (Ballinora), Aoibhe Day (Youghal), Laura Dunlea (Sarsfields); Ava Fitzgerald (Sarsfields), Amy McCarthy (Clonakilty); Aoibhinn O’Neill (Erin’s Own), Gráinne Finn (Fr. O’Neills), Kate Fennessy (Sarsfields); Lucy O’Connell (Blarney), Orlaith Cremin (Éire Óg), Amy Sheppard (Sarsfields).
Subs: Sarah Murphy (Glen Rovers) for Lucy O’Connell; Louise O’Neill (Ballinora) for Kate Fennessy, Julie Guiney (Mallow) for Aoibhinn O’Neill, Isabelle Nestor (Midleton) for Amy O’Riordan, Ellie Buckley (Aghabullogue) for Ava Fitzgerald.
Tipperary: Danielle Butler; Aoife Mellerick, Iris Grace, Eabha Dolan; Sophie Maher, Sarah Corcoran, Alison Fitzgerald; Paula Quirke, Lucy Purcell; Caoimhe Stakelum, Danielle Ryan, Ciara Shelly; Ciara Gleeson, Ali O’Kelly, Emer Dwan.
Subs: Aoife Fitzgerald for Ciara Shelly, Ava Bevans for Emer Dwan, Robyn Fitzgerald for Alison Fitzgerald, Nicola Kelly for Ali O’Kelly, Ciara O’Hora for Ciara Gleeson.
Referee: Justin Heffernan, Wexford.