By Anthony Newman

Tipperary 2-10

Cork 2-9

Tipperary won the Sharon O’Keeffe U16 A ladies football final at Banteer on Saturday in dramatic fashion.

With only two minutes remaining they were two points down and at that point they would have taken the draw.

But three late points saw Tipp emerge winners after a highly entertaining final.

For most of the tie there was little between the sides until midway through the second half when Cork took a 2-8 to 1-6 lead and looked like going on to win it.

But a second goal from the simply outstanding Róisín Browne put them back within two points and all of a sudden, the momentum started to swing in Tipp’s favour.

Huge credit must go to the winners who never gave up, led by the likes of Browne, Saoirse Deegan and Ella Kelleher.

Cork will rue missed chances but also must be applauded for bringing on all their subs to ensure all players got valuable game time over the hour.

Emily Carey put Cork in front, with Browne equalising for Tipp, Lucy O’Brien got Cork’s second score, with Browne again replying for Tipp to make it 0-2 each.

Lauren Trehy put Tipp in front for the first time, before two from Katie McGann put the Rebels back in front, 0-4 to 0-3.

With 15 minutes gone Cork got the first goal of the tie as Michela Moynihan finding the back of the net, to make it 1-4 to 0-3.

Browne pointed for Tipp, before they were back on level terms. Ella O’Donnell was fouled and Sinead Nugent made no mistake from the resulting penalty to make it 1-4 each.

Just before the half time whistle Meabh Ní Chéilleachair scored from a free for Cork to see them lead 1-5 to 1-4 at the break.

Browne had the sides level, before Moynihan put Cork back in front. Anna Leahy replied for Tipp before Cork had their best spell of the game.

Mia Carroll pointed, before Moynihan got Cork’s second goal and she quickly followed that with a point, to make it 2-8 to 1-6.

But back came Tipp with a magnificent goal from Browne, after 47 minutes, to make it 2-8 to 2-6.

Browne pointed from a free to make it a one-point game, before Ava Murphy replied for the Rebels.

They led 2-9 to 2-8 with time running out, but Tipp weren’t finished yet.

Leahy put one between the sides, before Deegan levelled it and the same player got the game winning score to see Tipp win by a point, after a highly entertaining game.

Scorers for Tipperary: R Browne 1-5 (4f), S Nugent 1-0 (1-0 pen), A Leahy, S Deegan 0-2 each, L Trehy 0-1.

Cork: M Moynihan 2-2 (2f), K McGann 0-2, E Carey, L O’Brien, M Ní Chéilleachair, M Carroll, A Murphy 0-1 each.

TIPPERARY: M Cummins; A Mason E Kelleher S Strang; M Cody, N Nugent, R Bateman; I Comerford, S Deegan; E O’Donnell, R Browne, S Nugent; A Leahy, F O’Dwyer, L Trehy.

Subs: L O’Neill for M Cody, S O’Toole for I Comerford, K Flanagan for E O’Donnell, E O’Shea for S Nugent, K O’Meara for S Strang, E Hayes for N Nugent.

CORK: S Canty; C Ambrose, N Ni Loingsigh S Erangey; G O’Sullivan, P Murphy, L Mylod; N Doyle, L O’Brien; K McGann, M Carroll, L O’Neill; E Carey, M Moynihan, M Ní Chéilleachair.

Subs: A Hanly for K McGann, K Collins for P Murphy, M Lawlor for M Carroll, S McAuley for S Canty, M O’Sullivan for S Erangey, N O’Leary for E Carey, A Murphy for M Moynihan, K Clifford for L O’Neill, O Murphy for L O’Brien, T Browne for G O’Sullivan, M Allen for L Mylod, R Groarke for M Ní Chéilleachair, L Sheehan for C Ambrose.

Referee: Maurice Murphy, Kerry.