It's always a good day when Tipperary footballers beat Kerry!

Tipperary 3-6 Kerry 1-10

Tipperary and Kerry faced off in the first round of the Munster Ladies Gaelic Football (LGFA) Minor Championship at Fethard Town Park on Sunday, delivering an exciting and closely contested first half. The game started at a lively pace, with both teams eager to make an early impact.

Tipperary opened the scoring after just under a minute with a well-taken point from play by Grace Hogan. Kerry responded with multiple attacking efforts but they struggled to convert them, with wides from Muireann Teahan and Sadhbh O’Sullivan hampering their early momentum.

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As the half progressed, Tipperary found their rhythm. Julie Grey struck a crucial goal in the 23rd minute, followed by another goal minutes later from Aoife Shelly, putting Tipp in a strong position.

Kerry attempted to fight back with points from Mary Kate Smith, Anna O’Sullivan and Muireann Teahan keeping them in the contest. However, their inefficiency in front of goal was evident as they registered several wides throughout the half.

The second half saw plenty of action, with both teams battling for control.

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Kerry had an early impact, with a goal from play by Hannah Nic Gearailt in the seventh minute, giving them a significant boost. They continued to press forward, earning a point from a free by Muireann Teahan and a few wide attempts from play by Hannah Nic Gearailt and Siofra Randles. However, their aggression also led to discipline issues, with Roisin Daly receiving a yellow card in the the 17th minute.

Tipperary responded well, with Grace Hogan scoring a point from a free and Sinead O’Carroll adding another from play. They also saw an impact from substitutes, with Kate Nevin, Sarah English and Meave Cunneen coming onto the field to reinforce their side.

In the early moments of the second half Tipperary maintained their push, with Issy Carr scoring a point from play just 21 seconds into the half. However, missed opportunities were also present, with Julie Grey shooting a wide in the fourth minute.

Kerry also had early attempts but Mary Kate Smith’s shot went wide, leaving them unable to capitalise further on their earlier lead.

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Tipperary continued to apply pressure, with additional points from Aoife Shelly and Grace Hogan. Despite Kerry’s best efforts, including another point from Muireann Teahan, their high number of wides proved costly.

Both teams battled fiercely, with Kerry determined to overturn Tipperary’s half-time lead. The late exchanges were closely contested, but Tipperary delivered a crucial moment in the 29th minute when Sarah English struck a decisive goal from play, extending their advantage.

Kerry, however, kept pushing forward, with Lori O’Connor and Mary Kate Smith adding valuable points from play. Their attacking efforts were somewhat hampered by missed opportunities, with Muireann Teahan and others registering wides at key moments.

Muireann Teahan managed to convert a free in the 21st minute, and followed it up with another well-taken point from play in the 23rd minute, keeping Kerry within touching distance. However, despite further substitutions aimed at injecting fresh energy into their team, they couldn’t quite bridge the gap.

Tipperary, meanwhile, held firm in defence, absorbing Kerry’s pressure while also creating enough scoring chances to see out the game.

Kerry’s persistence led to a late push but a crucial wide from a free by Muireann Teahan in the 27th minute proved costly, as they ran out of time to complete the comeback.

Tipperary panel: Kate Hennessy, Erin Grace, Tara Bourke, Kate Cremins, Abi Ryan, Issy Carr, Emaleigh Cuddihy, Molly Crowe (captain), Sinead O'Carroll, Sophia O'Grady, Lucy O'Brien, Julie Grey, Grace Hogan, Aoife Shelly, Eavann Duffy, Caoilinn Grogan, Ailise Fitzgerald, Emma Kiely, Erin O'Keeffe, Grace Tuohy, Kate Nevin, Katie Murphy, Keeva Bailey Moloney, Lily Maher, Maeve Cunneen, Margaret McGrath, Mia Keague, Sarah English, Sophie Coughlan, Zoe Tierney.

Kerry panel: Anne O'Shaughnessy, Seodhla Colleran, Grace Murphy, Roisin Daly, Jamie Lee O'Connor, Siofra Randles, Leona O'Sullivan, Aoise O' Donoghue, Anna O'Sullivan, Hannah Nic Gearailt, Muireann Teahan, Lucy O'Connor, Sadhbh O'Sullivan, Mary Kate Smith, Priya O'Donovan, Lucy Harrington, Robyn Cahill (captain), Naoise Burke, Dervlah Healy, Saoirse Harkin, Lori O'Connor, Chloe McHugh, Eve Broderick, Keeva Riordan, Hayley O'Flaherty, Sarah Palmer, Eabha McEvoy, Lily O'Shaughnessy, Sadhbh Ni Shlattara, Aoibhinn McCarthy.