Munster U16B Sharon O’Keeffe Tournament

Round 3

Cork v Tipperary

Mallow Sports Complex

Sunday 25/02/2024 12 noon

Referee: Paddy Smith (Waterford)

With Tipperary playing from right to left on a sodden field with a strong prevailing wind impeding them the first half of this contest was always going to be challenging.

Cork opened their account in the 3^rd minute with a point from play off their corner forwards boot. Tipperary responded 2 mins later with an Alice Butler point to level the score board for the first and only time of the game because less than a minute later Cork found the back of the net from an Aoife Collins well anticipated move that gave the Tipp goalie no chance.

On the 13^th minute Tipperary made their first of 9 substitutions with Lily O’Donoghue replacing Sarah Rose Meehan. All the while Cork continued to show case their dominance tagging on a further 5 points to their tally. Although unfortunate at times to not come away with more possession, the work rate from the Tipperary group was phenomenal but they simply could not factor in the conditions. The 26^th minute saw the introduction of Katie Fox for Sophie McGowan and Cork saw out the half with a further 2 points to go to the dressing room well in the ascendancy.

HALF TIME                 CORK 1 – 8                             TIPPERARY 0 – 1

SECOND HALF

With an up-hill battle in front of them the young Tipperary side hoped to make the most of the wind advantage in the second half and challenged the score board in the opening minute with a point from a placed ball off Elena Codys boot. This half of the game proved to be more equal in the scoring stakes, but the Tipperary back lines found themselves under a constant barrage from their buoyed up Cork counterparts.

On the 9th minute Tipperary looked to their bench and both Zara Hennessey and Torrie Doyle were brought in to replace the hard-working Aoife Browne and Kate O’Shea. Subsequent to the changes Chloe O’Neill did well to slot over a point from a placed ball but this was to remain Tipperarys final score of the day.

Tipperary’s backs fought an incredible battle under serious pressure from the strong Cork forward lines who managed to tag 2 further points before the 20^th minute.

Tipperary utilised their bench to the maximum on the 20^th minute with the introduction of Meabh Leahy, Emma Durkan, Amy Cahill, Elena Cody, Stella Carr and Rea Hayes who, to their credit, covered acres of space to try and lessen the drift.

The final score of the contest saw Corks wing forward finish her sides scoring and guarantee victory for the Lee Siders.

Tipperary were put to the pin of their collars in todays encounter against a strong, formidable Cork side but to their credit, fought hard for the 60 minutes and rarely lost their resolve to remain competitive.

FULL TIME                        CORK 1 – 11                           TIPPERARY 0 – 3

TIPPERARY:

Lucy Moloney, Sophie McGowan, Erin O’Donnell, Brid Delaney, Sarah Rose Meehan, Zara McCarthy, Casey Butler, Sadhbh Hannafin, Elena Cody (0-1), Chloe O’Neill (0-1), Aoibhinn Casey, Aoife Browne, Kate O’Shea, Alice Butler (0-1), Gemma Hayes.

SUBS USED:

Lily O’Donoghue for Sarah Rose Meehan (13’), Kate Fox for Sophie McGowan (26’), Zara Hennessey for Aoife Browne (39’), Torrie Doyle for Kate O’Shea (39’), Meabh Leahy for Alice Butler (50’), Emma Durkan for Brid Delaney (51’), Amy Cahill for Kate Fox (52’), Aimee Fitzgerald for Elena Cody (53’), Stella Carr for Lucy Moloney (55’), Rea Hayes for Chloe O’Neill (56’)