Disappointment as Tipperary girls lose out in All-Ireland Under 16 football final
All-Ireland Under 16B Ladies Football Final
KILDARE 3-11 TIPPERARY 1-8
Aoife Murnane scored two goals while a strong second half showing ensured the All-Ireland U16 ‘B’ Championship was awarded to Kildare after they got the better of Tipperary at Crettyard.
Tipperary led by 0-7 to 0-4 at the break but a reinvigorated Kildare attack, and goals from Tara Rafferty and Murnane, pushed the Lilywhites into a lead they did not relinquish.
In beautiful evening sunshine, Tipperary immediately got off the mark when Ciara O’Hora pointed in the opening minute. It was to be O’Hora’s first score of seven from play as the Arravale Rovers player hit all of Tipperary’s first half scores.
While both teams tested out the keepers early on, O’Hora added a second point before Rafferty converted a free on ten minutes, and then Tipperary surged further ahead with two quick-fire points from O’Hora.
Ellie Franklin of Tipperary in action against Abaigh Cahill of Kildare during the 2022 All-Ireland U16 B Final between Kildare and Tipperary at Crettyard, Co. Laois. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Despite Niamh Murphy and Meabh McDonagh both marking O’Hora, she found enough space to hit Tipperary’s sixth point on 26 minutes. This was immediately cancelled out by a Rafferty point set up by Egan. While O’Hora added a seventh, Kildare made it a three-point game at the break, as Rafferty converted the last kick of the half.
Points from Abaigh Cahill and Caoimhe Egan narrowed the gap to just a single score for Kildare and when Rafferty hit the net on 34 minutes, Kildare took the lead for the very first time.
Beibhinn Hughes pushed Kildare into a three-point advantage before Tipperary hit back, Ciara Shelly sending a thundering shot into the bottom right hand corner.
As both management teams brought in fresh legs, the game remained at a deadlock at 1-7 to 1-7 for almost ten minutes before Kildare dealt the killer blow. Murnane struck 2-1 in four minutes to push Kildare out of sight, the second a long run up the left flank, finished to perfection with a solid left boot.
While O’Hora did point again for Tipperary, Caoimhe Egan, Abi Whelan (free) and Emma Walshe all converted ensuring Kildare celebrated an All-Ireland.
On a disappointing evening for Tipperary, they were best served by the magnificent Ciara O’Hora, goalkeeper Chloe Shorley, Paula Quirke, Caitlin Shelly and Aedin McCormack. Grace Fitzpatrick Ryan did very well when introduced.
Scorers – Kildare: A Murnane 2-1, T Rafferty 1-4 (2f), C Egan 0-2, A Whelan 0-1, A Cahill 0-1, B Hughes 0-1, E Walshe 0-1.
Tipperary: C O’Hora 0-8, C Shelly 1-0.
KILDARE: S Knightly, J Brannigan, Z Hurley (C), H Lyons, L Dunlea, N Murphy, M McDonagh, B Hughes, A McNally, A Murnane, A Whelan, A Cahill, C Egan, H Murphy, T Rafferty.
Subs: E Walshe for Rafferty (41), S Mahon for Cahill (51), E Behan for H Murphy (53), H Telford for Murnane (56), A Travers for Whelan (57).
TIPPERARY: Chloe Shorley (Thurles Sarsfields), Ciara Redmond (Clonmel Commercials), Paula Quirke (Boherlahan/Dualla), Niamh O’Farrell (Ardfinnan), Sophie Maher (Boherlahan/Dualla, Caitlin Shelly (Moycarkey/Borris), Ellie Franklin (Moyle Rovers), Aedin McCormack (Moyle Rovers), Sinead O’Carroll (Ardfinnan), Amy Reddan (Moyne/Templetuohy), Ciara O’Hora (Capt., Arravale Rovers), Molly Gilmartin (Boherlahan/Dualla), Emer Dwan (Boherlahan/Dualla), Ciara Shelly (Moycarkey/Borris), Ciara Fitzpatrick (Rockwell Rovers).
Subs: Grace Fitzpatrick Ryan (Holycross/Ballycahill) for Gilmartin (27), Ava Wall (Moyle Rovers) for Fitzpatrick (30), Issy Carr (Holycross/Ballycahill) for Redmond (37), Eabha Dolan (Moyle Rovers) for Ciara Shelly (52), Hannah Downey (Boherlahan/Dualla) for O’Farrell (58).
Referee – J Murphy (Cork).