All-Ireland Minor Camogie Final
For the second time in 2011 in the space of three months, Kilkenny camogie suffered agony at the hands of Tipperary, as they lost out by the slenderest of margins in an All-Ireland final.
In early May, Tipperary condemned the under-16s to heartbreak as they won the All-Ireland by a solitary point, while the minors suffered similar fate last Sunday as they relinquished a nine-point lead at half-time to suffer further All-Ireland woes.
Tipperary made an excellent start, as the talented Sarah Fryday scored a 4th minute goal, but the premier youngsters failed to score for the remainder of the half as Kilkenny dominated, buoyed on by a strong wind advantage.
Recovering from their early setback, Kilkenny drew level by courtesy of points from Claire Phelan, Orla Hanrick and Aisling Curtis, 0-3 to 1-0. They seized the initative in the 11th minute, when a scintillating run by Lydia Fitzpatrick set up Claire Phelan, who rifled a blistering shot to the net.
Grace Walsh was giving an exhibition at centre-back, and Kilkenny pushed further forward, adding points from Aisling Curtis and Orla Hanrick. An Orla Hanrick goal on the stroke of half-time put Kilkenny in a commanding position, as they appeared to have both hands on the cup, at 2-6 to 1-0.
Tipperary made significant substitutions and switches at the interval, with the introduction of Anne Evistion having a significant effect. The tide turned dramatically in the early stages of the second half, as Tipperary grabbed goals from Sarah Fryday and Michaela Graham to make it 2-6 to 3-1.
Kilkenny were suddenly on tenterhooks, and the gap was halved to the minimum entering the last quarter as Tara Kennedy pointed. However, Kilkenny’s Lydia Fitzpatrick steadied the ship with points from a free and a ’45, as Kilkenny stretched the lead out to three points.
Tipperary fought back, and a Nicola Walsh goal drew the sides level, as the closing stages were set for a grandstand finish. Kilkenny subsitite Emma Kavanagh made her present felt, and she pointed in the 55th minute, to restore Kilkenny’s initative.
However, Tipperary kept plugging away, and substitute Alice Fogarty pointed to level proceedings, before Nicola Walsh pointed the winning free with two minutes remaining, as Tipperary snatched victory from the Kilkenny girls.
Scorers – Tipperary: Sarah Fryday 2-0, Nicola Walsh 1-1 (0-1 free ), Michaela Graham 1-0, Brid Quinn, Tara Kennedy and Alice Fogarty 0-1 each.
Kilkenny: Claire Phelan and Orla Hanrick 1-1 each, Lydia Fitzpatrick(0-1 free 0-1’45 ), Miriam Walsh and Aisling Curtis 0-2 each, Emma Kavanagh 0-1 each.
