Tipp camogie win in style to claim a first minor All-Ireland title since 2016

Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor A Camogie Championship Final

Tipperary 2-9

Waterford 0-10

Tipperary’s minor camogie team finished their year as strongly as they started it with victory over Waterford in this year’s Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Camogie Final in UPMC Nowlan Park by being crowned All-Ireland champions for 2024 - a first at this grade since 2006.

The foundations for this win came from a blistering start to the game from the Premier girls, who showed no sign of nerves as they raced into a 2-4 to nil lead in the first quarter with goals from Lucy Purcell and Ava Bevans doing the trick as Waterford faltered early on under the pressure coming from the Tipperary players.

Waterford tried hard to pull back that hammer blow early on but they just couldn’t unlock the terrific Tipperary defence who were stubborn as they were excellent, and with Caoimhe Stakelum nailing her frees in the second half, along with several quality efforts from play on the counterattack, the Tipp girls showed real composure to hold off every Waterford advance to claim a deserved All-Ireland crown to go with their Munster title won a few months ago.  

From the off, there was only one team at the pitch of things in Nowlan Park and Lucy Purcell gave her side the perfect start with an incredible sideline cut scything over the bar from an acute angle which gave Tipp a 0-2 lead with their first effort at goal, and that set the tone for what was to come.

Ava Bevans was causing a wreck inside in the first six or seven minutes and when she clawed down a big Paula Quirke delivery to run in on goal, her low shot was well saved by Waterford keeper Katelyn Gardner from close range; Caoimhe Stakelum converting the resulting 45.

However, the sizable Tipperary support wouldn't have long to wait for the green flag to flutter, when just three minutes later, Lucy Purcell produced the finish after she was brilliantly set free after a powerful Elana McGrath run and with open road in front of the Thurles Sarsfields player, she pulled the trigger from close range to find the net. Tipperary in complete control early.

Caoimhe Stakelum added a free to Tipp's total a minute later but it was complete dreamland for Tipperary players and management in the 13 minute when the Premier girls struck for a second goal; this time, Ava Bevans made no mistake as she latched onto another high ball into the inside line and had the easiest of finishes to the net. Incredibly, Tipp led by 2-4 to no score with Waterford in complete disarray.

It was one-way traffic in the first quarter. But credit must be given to Waterford as they settled to their task after that awful opening, and despite the Tipperary defence providing a tough challenge, they scored the final three points of the half as the game became a more attritional contest after that early scoring splurge.

Two Maggie Gostl frees and a well-taken effort from Rebecca Farrell did have Waterford on the board, and that was how it would stay as the half-time whistle went and Tipperary were halfway towards their ultimate goal.

From the restart, Waterford made early inroads with the first score of the half - coming from another Maggie Gostl free - but a first of the day from the industrious Ciara Shelly settled Tipp soon after. The game though, was beginning to become the competitive fare that was touted in the lead-up to this game.

Waterford were being dragged back into contention by the impressive Maggie Gostl, and she turned down an easy point in the 37th minute, as she went for goal from a 21-yard free. However, the wall of Tipperary bodies on the line managed to block the effort and deny the Deise a shot in the arm.

That was as nervy as it would get for the Tipperary defence though, and they were utterly dominant for the remainder with Sarah Corcoran leading them brilliantly from centre back, the Premier took the initiative yet again by the 48th minute with Caoimhe pointing two placed balls along with a fine effort from Lucy Heffernan putting Tipp ahead 2-8 to 0-4.

It was now a case of 'hold onto what you have' as Tipp dropped into a defensive shape for the remainder of the game and even allowing for a few Waterford scores in the next five minutes from Gostl and Aisling Bonner (daughter of Colm), Tipp responded with their last score of the game from Elana McGrath to stave off any overwhelming Deise momentum.

Goals would now be needed for Waterford to deny Tipperary from here. And when Danielle Butler pulled off an incredible save from a Maggie Gostl effort in the 59th minute, that was all she wrote for Waterford as the Tipp goal remained un-breached for the six minutes of added-on time as Tipperary people all over the stadium erupted in celebration at the sound of the final whistle.

Tipperary Camogie continues to rise!

Scorers: Tipperary: Caoimhe Stakelum (0-4, 0-2f, 0-2 45), Lucy Purcell (1-2, 0-2, one sideline), Ava Bevans 1-0, Lucy Heffernan, Elana McGrath, Ciara Shelly all 0-1 each.

Waterford: Maggie Gostl (0-5, 0-3f), Aisling Bonner 0-2, Rebecca Farrell, Eimear O’Neill, Niamh Ryan all 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Danielle Butler (Éire Óg Annacarty); Paula Quirke (Boherlahan Dualla), Aoife Mellerick (Newport/Ballinahinch), Ellie Franklin (Moyle Rovers); Éabha Dolan (Moyle Rovers), Sarah Corcoran (Moycarkey Borris), Caithlyn Treacy (Moneygall); Lucy Heffernan (Éire Óg Annacarty), Leanna Coppinger (Thurles Sarsfields); Lucy Purcell (Thurles Sarsfields), Danielle Ryan (Éire Óg Anncarty), Ciara Shelly (Moycarkey Borris); Ava Bevans (Borris-Ileigh), Caoimhe Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields), Elana McGrath (Holycross Ballycahill).

Subs used: Ali O’Kelly (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for Bevans (58); Emer Dwan (Cashel King Cormacs) for Heffernan (59).

Waterford: Katelyn Gardner (Brickey Rangers); Alex Healy (De La Salle), Anna McGoldrick (Tramore), Cara Cantwell (Gailtir); Katie O’Neill (Tramore), Holly O’Sullivan (Gailtir), Abbie Burrows (Portlaw); Ali Ferguson (Gailtir), Hannah McGrath (St. Annes); Eimear O’Neill (Brickey Rangers), Maggie Gostl (De La Salle), Emma Fitzgerald (Gailtir); Katelyn Lyons (Butlerstown), Molly Kearney (Butlerstown), Rebecca Farrell (Butlerstown).

Subs used: Niamh Ryan (Ballyduff Upper) for Kearney (HT); Chloe Morrissey (Cappoquin) for Cantwell (42); Aisling Bonner (St. Annes) for Farrell (45); Olivia Flynn (Brickey Rangers) for Lyons (55).

Referee: Gavin Donegan (Dublin)