Cavan pipped by Tipp in All-Ireland final

All-Ireland U-14 Silver

Tipperary 3-8

Cavan 1-5

By Deniese O’Flaherty

TIPPERARY are the All-Ireland U-14 Silver champions after defeating Cavan at Kinnegad GAA Grounds.

The Premier County took the game to Cavan right from the start and were the hungrier side throughout.

Tipperary dominated early proceedings and raced into a five point lead after 18 minutes of play, with Faye O’Dwyer (one free) and Roisin Browne getting two points each. Browne also forced Cavan keeper Caitlin Nolan into making a point blank save in the 18th minute.

Cavan got their opening score in the 21st minute, Pearl Gilmartin with a point. In the 25th minute Tipp’s Farrah Madigan took a shot from distance that ended up in the back of the net. Minutes later Madigan hit the crossbar with a powerful effort.

The Breffni County were back in the game just before half-time; Gilmartin pointed a free before Laila Cooney was fouled and a penalty was awarded. Cooney took the resulting kick and made no mistake to cut the deficit to three 1-5 to 1-2.

Tipp made the perfect start to the second half, with two minutes gone on the clock they got their second goal. Substitutes Anna Leahy and Klaudia Compa combined with Compa finishing to the net, she followed up with a point. In the 34th minute Tipp raised the green flag again through O’Dwyer.

In the 37th minute Riona Crowe’s effort was just inches away from getting a second goal for Cavan. They got their first point of the half in the 42nd minute through substitute Elsie McEvoy. Gilmartin (free) and another sub Katie Hughes followed up with much needed points for the Ulster county. They had chances after that but kicked wides after being put under pressure by the Tipp defence.

After 22 minutes without a point Compa kicked over a neat point in the 56th minute. Leahy sealed the win with a point near the end.

Scorers

Tipperary: K Compa 1-2, F O’Dywer 1-2 (1f), F Madigan 1-1, R Browne 0-2, A Leahy 0-1;

Cavan: L Cooney (1-0 pen), P Gilmartin 0-3 (2fs), E McEvoy, K Hughes 0-1 each.

TIPPERARY: M Cummins; A Mason, M Grey, N Dunphy; L O’Connell, M Lonergan, P Marcinek; G-Mai Barrett, H Murphy; F O’Dwyer, F Madigan, R Browne; C Dennehy, S O’Sullivan, S Nugent
Subs used: K Compa, A Leahy, N Hyland, K Browne-Souza, E O’Shea, M Cody.

CAVAN: C Nolan; E Gilsenan, N McKenna, A Leddy; I Wynne, A Ford Peat, C Rudden; S Lyons, R Crowe; A O’Reilly, F Caffrey, L Cooney; P Gilmartin, A Harney, S McNulty

Subs used: E McEvoy, L Cosgrove, K Hughes, I Murphy, K McEnroe, L McDaid, L Ferguson

Referee: Conor McCarthy (Cork)