Search
21 Oct 2025
Search
21 Oct 2025
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.
Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.
If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .
Support our mission and join our community now.
To continue reading this article, you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles!
Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day.
Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism!
PICTURE: Sportsfocus
Tipperary manager Denis Kelly was full of praise following his side’s narrow victory, singling out goalkeeper Laura Leenane for a game-saving intervention that proved pivotal in the closing stages.
“I'll definitely be sending Ray a Christmas card for that one!” Kelly joked, a nod to Leenane’s standout moment between the posts.
READ NEXT: BREAKING: Referee appointed for Tipperary's All-Ireland final clash against Cork!
Leenane, who stepped into the starting role this season, has clearly earned her manager’s trust.
“Look, they fall for you at times. I thought we were possibly goosed if that went in. Laura's been a huge find.
“We lost Nicole Walsh (who retired) so we needed someone to fill the boots and she's definitely done that. That was a huge save, as was Mairéad’s,” he added, referencing Mairéad Eviston’s vital first-half block on Keher Murtagh’s goal-bound effort.
“All these things add up at the end of it, it's another game of inches.”
Reflecting on the tactical battle, Kelly admitted that Kilkenny’s defensive shape posed early problems. He credited their opponents for a smart setup that initially stifled Tipperary’s usual attacking rhythm.
“They were clever about it, to be fair. We were putting up big scores, they're a young team, they've a few experienced women but there's a lot of young players there.
"So I suppose they decided to put the sweeper there.“At half time, we restructured that and we just decided to switch sides and get people into space a little bit more, pushing Karen (Kennedy) to centre-forward. While she wasn't having as much possessions as she normally has, she really drew them in around her."
Another decisive contribution came from Jean Kelly, who made a significant impact after being introduced off the bench, registering three points at a crucial time.
“Jean is so good off the bench. She's a little wizard there, she comes in and she gets her scores and she's zipping around. She gives us such impact off the bench.”
ALSO READ: Tipperary Live player ratings - Tipperary vs Kilkenny AI SHC - semi-final
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.
This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.
