Kilkenny cruise past battling Tipperary in one-sided All-Ireland minor championship clash

Electric Ireland Minor A All-Ireland Camogie Championship - Round 2

Tipperary 0-9 

Kilkenny 3-14

By Joe Scully

Tipperary were no match for Kilkenny in this second-round clash in the All-Ireland Minor Camogie Championship in Fethard on Sunday morning. 

READ NEXT: Tipperary camogie team makes winning start to life under new manager

It was a chastening experience for a Tipp side who came into the game full of confidence after a great win over Cork in the opening set of fixtures, but they were no match whatsoever for the reigning All-Ireland champions, who were the better side throughout, and the fourteen-point winning margin was a fair reflection of the game overall. 

The Cats had the game put to bed after a blistering first half, which saw them find the back of the net three times, and at the end of it they led by 13 points. While the second half was a much more even affair, the Premier Ladies never looked like making any inroads into the massive lead, as Kilkenny comfortably saw out the game. 

Kilkenny were far superior in every facet of the game, as the home side just could not cope with the intensity the Leinster outfit brought to proceedings. Kilkenny were first to every breaking ball, won all the 50/50 battles and were excellent in defence, where they gave a masterclass in hooking and blocking. 

It was a superb team performance from the Cats, with the likes of Erin Morrissey, Mairead Duggan, Ona Kennedy, Emily Phelan and Amy O’Shea outstanding, while for Tipp, Ciara Cahill, Abbie Horgan and Neasa Dwan impressed.

Kilkenny hit the front in the fourth minute when Ona Kennedy pointed from a dead ball, and the lead was out to two a minute later after a great finish from Amy O’Shea. 

Kilkenny continued to pile on the pressure, and Shauna Mahony added her side’s third in the seventh minute, before a free from Abbie Horgan in the 12th minute opened the scoring for the Munster side. 

However, two minutes later, Kilkenny’s Hollie Ryan was fouled close to goal and was awarded a penalty, which Ona Kennedy stepped up to and finished low to the bottom corner to leave the score 1-3 to 0-1. 

Amy O’Shea, who was causing massive trouble for the Tipperary full-back line, added her second a few minutes later, and straight after, Emily Phelan found the back of the net with a well-taken finish after a strong run. 

The same player nearly goaled again in the 22nd minute but saw her effort saved out for a 45, which Ona Kennedy pointed. 

The game was effectively put to bed in the 25th minute when Kilkenny added their third goal, this time from the stick of Amy O’Shea, who, after a superb catch, turn and run, smashed the ball to the back of the Tipperary net. 

The home side responded a minute later with their second and final score of the half, with Abbie Horgan pointing from a free, but the final say of the half went to Emily Phelan with a pointed effort with the last puck of the half.

Kilkenny extended their lead within a minute of the restart through an Amy O’Shea free, which Tipperary responded to in the 33rd minute with their opening score from play via the stick of Grace Stapleton. 

Kilkenny hit back with two scores of their own within a minute through Emily Phelan and Shauna Mahony, before a good run and finish from Alice Butler brought her side’s fourth score of the game. 

Emily Phelan added another to her own tally and her side’s 10th point, before Abbie Horgan and Amy O’Shea exchanged frees to leave the score 3-10 to 0-5 after 46 minutes. Tipperary hit the next two scores, firstly a nice effort from Grace Stapleton following a superb catch, and then an Abbie Horgan free. 

The Cats then hit three in a row of their own, firstly Phelan with a nice finish, then an O’Shea effort from a free, before Shauna Mahony finished neatly in the 58th minute for what would be her side’s final score. 

Tipperary, to their credit, never gave up throughout the game and finished strongly, hitting the final two scores via two frees from Abbie Horgan, but they were mere consolation scores as Kilkenny ran out comfortable victors, leaving Tipp with a lot of work to do before a trip to Dublin in two weeks for round three.

Tipperary: Erin O’Donnell; Eimear Ryan, Kate Nevin, Ella Frend; Jessie Shanahan, Ciara Cahill, Evanne Gleeson; Emma Bonner, Eva Ralph; Alice Butler (0-1), Ailbhe Treacy, Grace Stapleton (0-2); Abbie Horgan (0-6f), Issabelle Kingston, Kaelinn Rossiter.

Subs used: Nesa Dwan for I Kingston (10, inj); Eavanne Duffy for E Bonner (HT); Doireann Ryan for K Rossiter (45); Grace Cleary for A Butler (50); Ava Fanning for J Shanahan (50); Kate Fox for E Ryan (57); Leah Maher for E Frend (57); Sarah Jane Ormond for A Treacy (60).

Kilkenny: Ella Walton; Hannah Tennyson, Erin Morrissey, Mairead Duggan; Ciara Hickey, Ona Kennedy (1-2f), Aoife O’Grady; Dhannon Doheny, Eleanor Doheny; Sadhbh Shefflin, Shauna Mahony (0-3), Hollie Ryan; Emily Phelan (1-4), Emily Cooney, Amy O’Shea (1-5, 0-2f).

Subs used: Aoibhinn Ryan for H Ryan (43); Katie O’Shea for S Shefflin (43); Sinead Jones for O Kennedy (48); Leah O’Donovan for E Cooney (62); Ellen Treacy for M Duggan (62).

Referee: Gavin Donegan (Dublin)

READ NEXT: Tipperary's promotion hopes suffer a setback following defeat by Carlow