Tipperary begin All-Ireland title defence with thrilling draw against strong Kilkenny side

Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor A Championship

Tipperary 1-9

Kilkenny 0-12

A late Caoimhe Stakelum free executed brilliantly from deep in her own half secured a hard earned draw for Tipperary away to Kilkenny in Sunday’s Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor A Championship. This meant it’s two draws in a row for Ray Ralph’s side who play Dunlin in their final group game in two weeks. 

Kilkenny, aided by the breeze, started as the brighter of the two teams. After ten minutes, they led by four points to one, with two of their scores coming from Lucy Boyd's frees. Tipperary’s sole point came from Lucy O’Brien.

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Tipperary struggled to make an impact on the scoreboard as Kilkenny extended their lead to 0-6 to 0-2, with O’Brien again on target for Tipperary after 18 minutes. 

However, a brilliant run by Caoimhe Stakelum set up Elana McGrath, who buried the ball into the net in the 25th minute, reducing Kilkenny’s lead to just one point, 1-3 to 0-7. 

Stakelum then added a well-taken free to level the game, but Kilkenny responded with the final score of the half from corner forward Molly Conroy to take a narrow one-point lead into the break.

Kilkenny again started the second half strongly, adding an early point before Elana McGrath replied for Tipperary. 

The Premier side worked tirelessly across the field, with standout performances in defence from Clodagh Grimes, Sarah McLoughlin and Leanna Coppinger, but Kilkenny managed to stretch their lead to three points once more. 

Rachel O’Meara pointed for Tipp to leave two between the sides before Caoimhe Stakelum stood up to score the first of two huge frees from distance. 

With time ticking down, Kilkenny looked like they were going to hold out for a slender one point lead but Caoimhe Stakelum had other ideas when awarded another late free from over 75 metres out. 

Showing huge composure, courage and a maturity beyond her years she calmly nailed the free to the delight of the travelling support to leave the sides all square as the final whistle sounded. 

Ciara Cahill had a very good game also for the visitors while Izzy Carr was very influential when introduced for the second half. 

While the game was at times scrappy and Kilkenny were on top for many parts of it, the late excitement and drama more than made up for this and the team can look forward in confidence to the visit of Dublin on March 16th. 

Tipperary: Danielle Butler; Sarah McLoughlin, Molly Loughnane, Leanna Coppinger; Clodagh Grimes, Isabel O’Donnell, Eva Ralph; Rachael O’Meara, Emma Kennedy; Caoimhe Stakelum, Lucy O’Brien, Elana McGrath; Eimhear Troy, Ciara Cahill, Maeve Cunneen.

Kilkenny: Jenny Saunders; Caoimhe Power, Grace Brennan, Jessica Smith; Rebecca Hayden, Ona Kennedy, Taylor Aylward; Rachel Phelan, Eleanor Doheny; Lucy Boyd, Ciara O’Shea, Aisling O’Sullivan; Emily Phelan, Niamh Davis, Molly Conroy.

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