Munster LGFA U16 Championship B Final

By Michael Heverin

Tipperary 1-13

Waterford 1-9

Tipperary survived a spirited Waterford fightback to claim the Munster LGFA U16 B Championship title at Banteer Community Sportsfield on Sunday, April 19th.

On a glorious day for football, Tipperary were deserving winners but were pushed all the way by a rejuvenated Waterford in the second half.

Tipperary raced into a 1-4 to no score lead midway through the first half after dominating play, with the goal a brilliant score from Rebeca Hewitt, and had pushed the lead out to ten points, 1-8 to 0-1 five minutes before the break.

However, Waterford, with a goal of their own, a penalty converted by Ruby Hallinan, had the margin back to seven points at the break, 1-9 to 1-2.

A free from Emma Cullinan extended the Tipp lead one minute into the second half, but the Deise girls showed tremendous resolve in the second half to outscore Tipp by seven points to four, and keep the game in the melting pot until referee Seamus Mulvihill’s final whistle.

Tipperary’s attack proved crucial. The Clonmel Commercials pair Rebecca Hewitt and Farrah Madigan scored 1-2 and 0-3 respectively, while their club colleague Emma Cullinan was accurate from placed balls. Órla Pamplin was a constant threat with darting runs up the right touchline, with big displays also from Zoe Duggan and Emily Fanning, as all six starting forwards got on the scoreboard.

Team captain Aoife Ryan was unable to start due to injury, but Laoise McCahey was an able replacement at fullback, with Emma Hally and Patrycja Marcinek busy in either corner. Katie Bergin was outstanding at centrehalf back with big games also from Ardfinnan duo Abbey O’Leary and Gemma Mai Barrett on the wings. Cahir’s Avril Moloney was rock solid in goal and could do little about the Waterford penalty. At midfield Emma Neary and Maebh Lonergan provided a solid platform, especially in the first half.

Team captain Niamh Woods was at the heart of Waterford’s best play, forming a dynamic midfield pairing with Lucy Raicevic as they took the game to Tipp in the second half. Saoirse Daly was outstanding in attack, running at the heart of the Tipperary defence, with great support from Millie Brett, Maisie Roche, Ruby Hallinan, Doireann Power and Áine Desmond.

After a difficult opening half, the Waterford defence settled into the game, with Laura Beresford a dependable last line of defence; Anna Cullinaa, Aoife O’Gorman and Erin Butler solid in the fullback line, and Emily O’Gorman, Martha de Paor and Leah Fennell strong in defence as well as linking up well with the attack.

Farrah Madigan opened the scoring with a Tipperary point in the first minute and before the Clonmel Commercials player doubled the lead in the 9th minute, Waterford had been wasteful with their

chances – Ruby Hallinan saw a shot rebound off the crossbar and both Millie Brett and Saoirse Daly were off target when good build-up play deserved a score.

Tipperary punished them by building on their lead, an Emily Fanning shot tipped over the bar by Waterford goalkeeper Laura Berseford, and then when a great run and shot from Gemma Mai Barrett just went wide, Rebecca Hewitt made it 0-4 to no score in the 13th minute. Within a minute Hewitt had added a goal, cutting in from the right wing to hit an unstoppable shot past Beresford.

Waterford’s opening score came in the 17th minute from a Millie Brett free, but a slick and fast-moving Tipperary attack hit back with four points on the bounce, from Órla Pamplin, an Emma Cullinan free, Madigan from a Zoe Duggan assist, and then Duggan with a great score for a 1-8 to 0-1 lead five minutes from the break.

One of Waterford’s best moves of the half ended with their second point from Brett, and then the Tramore player was unlucky not to add a goal a minute later when put through by Daly. However, they did get through for a crucial goal when Doireann Power was fouled in the square and her Na Déise clubmate Ruby Hallinan scored from the spot.

Tipperary hit back to complete the first half scoring when Madigan put Fanning through to point in the next move for a 1-9 to 1-2 interval lead.

When Cullinan from a free extended the Tipp lead just one minute into the second half, the game threatened to drift away from Waterford. But pride in the jersey saw them dig deep and they hit the next three points – sustained pressure was rewarded with a Saoirse Daly point; they regained possession from the kickout and Millie Brett put Maise Roche through to score; and then Doireann Power made it 1-10 to 1-5 when put through following a Brett free kick.

Both sides missed chances before Tipperary had their second point of the half in the 43rd minute, when Órla Pamplin finished another great run with a superb point. A slick Waterford move ended with a Ruby Hallinan point before Tipp missed their chance of a second goal. A quick attack tore open the Deise rearguard, and when Madigan put Hewitt through, she had a clear sight of goal but her shot hit the crossbar and over for a point rather than the goal that the move deserved.

The let-off appeared to revitalise Waterford again and they hit the next three points to make it a one score game, 1-12 to 1-9 – Maisie Roche proved the assist for a Saoirse Daly point, Daly then turned provider for Lucy Raicevic to score, and then Roche scored again from the kickout.

With eight minutes left to play and Waterford searching for a goal that would level the score, Tipperary were forced to defend deep, but they weathered the storm and a late free from Cullinan gave them that little bit of daylight to see the game out.

Captain Aoife Ryan may have been disappointed not to be able to play in the final, but she was delighted to accept the cup from Munster LGFA president Lorraine Royle to the delight of her team mates and supporters.

SCORERS: Tipperary – Rebecca Hewitt 1-2; Farrah Madigan 0-3; Emma Cullinan 0-3 frees; Órla Pamplin, Emily Fanning 0-2 each; Zoe Duggan 0-1.

Waterford – Ruby Hallinan 1-1; Maisie Roche, Saoirse Daly 0-2 each; Millie Brett 0-2, 1 free; Doireann Power, Lucy Raicevic 0-1 each.

TEAMS - Tipperary – Avril Moloney (Cahir); Emma Hally (Rockwell Rovers), Laoise McCahey (Thurles Sarsfields), Patrycja Marcinek (Arravale Rovers); Abbey O’Leary (Ardfinnan), Katie Bergin

(Templemore), Gemma Mai Barrett (Ardfinnan); Emma Neary (Ballina), Maebh Lonergan (Rockwell Rovers); Órla Pamplin (Slieve Felim Rapparees), Farrah Madigan (Clonmel Commercials), Zoe Duggan (St Patrick’s); Emily Fanning (Killenaule), Rebecca Hewitt (Clonmel Commercials), Emma Cullinan (Clonmel Commercials). Subs – Lily Gillespie (Rosegreen) for Zoe Duggan (45), Sarah O’Sullivan (Rosegreen) for Gemma Mai Barrett (55), Caoimhe O’Neill (Cappawhite) for Emma Cullinan (59).

Waterford – Laura Beresford (Abbeyside); Anna Cullinan (St. Pat’s), Aoife O’Gorman (Tramore), Erin Butler (Gaultier); Emily O’Gorman (Ballymacarbry), Martha de Paor (Gaultier), Leah Fennell (St Pat’s); Niamh Woods (Tramore), Lucy Raicevic (St Oliver’s); Millie Brett (Tramore), Maise Roche (St Oliver’s), Saoirse Daly (Tramore); Ruby Hallinan (Na Déise), Doireann Power (Na Déise), Áine Desmond (Gaultier). Subs – Leah Queally (St Pat’s) for Doireann Power (45).

Referee – Seamus Mulvihill