All-Ireland Premier Junior Camogie Championship final saw Tipperary win 0-12 against Laois 1-8. The triumph was secured when Jenny Grace hit a pinpoint in the fifth minute of injury time, making it a remarkable turnaround for Tipperary, who finally put to rest the nightmare of their loss in the previous year’s final.
The loss was a bitter one for Laois, who managed to maintain a lead up until the 52nd minute and managed to retake the lead momentarily, thanks to an outstanding point from Susie Delaney just before the game’s hour mark.
Laois, unfortunately, were not able to capitalise fully on their commanding performance during the first 25 minutes of the match. Their impressive onslaught, while it seemed promising, was not reflected in a substantial point advantage – they had a mere four-point lead and the half-time break.
The second half saw a more aggressive and resilient Tipperary side emerge. They came to life, especially in the middle third of the pitch, an area which they struggled in during the first half.
The contribution of substitutes Eva O’Dwyer and the Fahie sisters – Lily and Anna, played a crucial role in their team’s success; O’Dwyer scoring two points and Lily Fahie assisting her sister to equalise and secure the winning point.
The winning point was the ninth one for Grace, who brought her invaluable experience from her time with the senior squad and previous coach Bill Mullaney, showing her nerves of steel in the crucial moments of the match.
Laois showed incredible promise in the first half, constantly challenging the Tipperary defence with their speed and precise diagonal placements. They bagged two points early on from Gráinne Delaney and Eimear Hassett. However, Tipperary’s first point came seven minutes in by Grace. Despite a 22-minute scoreless period, they only trailed by four points at half-time, standing 1-5 to 0-4.
In spite of a robust finish by the winners, Laois made numerous blunders during multiple attempts to score. Only one successful strike to the net from Susie Delaney, in the tenth minute, turned out to be fruitful with a forceful drive. Delaney, representing Portlaoise, was fouled as she went on to permeate the defence of O’Moores for a penalty. It was followed by an ineffectual effort by Collier that was comfortably stopped by Laura Leenane who performed brilliantly to also obstruct the subsequent effort. Susie Delaney, however, managed to control the sliotar, giving it a solid shot, almost piercing the net.
Additional scores by Collier (two) and Aisling O’Dea extended their lead to seven, with Sinéad Meagher and O’Dwyer initiating physical dominance, securing three frees which were successfully converted, presenting a new aspect as the teams switched ends.
The second half witnessed an intense competition, but Laois continued to concede frees due to the ongoing pressure. Despite this, Tipp emerged strong with Sarah Pembroke compensating for the penalty by showcasing a triumphant performance as a central defender.
In the 42nd minute, Tipp was just one point behind. Although Collier’s free shot increased their lead by two, three consecutive scores by Grace – including a 60m free – gave Tipp their first leading position. A subsequent equaliser by Collier followed by a stunning score from Susie Delaney, after she nimbly dispossessed Gráinne Fox, put Laois in the lead as the four-minute injury time was approaching.
The game was in a delicate balance at this point. The Fahie siblings collaborated for evening the scores, with Lily Fahie being tripped just as the 65th minute mark was hit, which allowed Grace to take the deciding shot under the keen eyes of the authoritative referee, Karol Collins.
In a match officiated by Karol Collins from Galway, the Tipperary team included L Leenane, L Ryan, C Ryan, M Connolly, O O’Brien, S Pembroke, G Fox, A Quinlisk, C Brennan, JA Quirke, S Meagher, G Moloney, E Flanagan, L Shinners, and J Grace who scored nine points, eight of which were frees. In the course of the game, E O’Dwyer came in as a substitute for Quirke (26 minutes into the game) scoring two points, A Fahie replaced Moloney at the 52-minute mark, and L Fahie came on for Flanagan, scoring one point, 58 minutes in.
The Laois team was made up of A Lowry, L Finlay, L Daly, F Scully, A Finlay, C Tynan, S Creagh, L C Fennell, J Bergin, A O’Dea who scored a point, G Delaney also with a point, A Walsh, E Hassett with a point, A Collier who managed four points (one of which was a free), and S Delaney scoring one goal and one point. Their substitutions consisted of LM Maher for O’Dea (at half-time); R Deegan for Fennell (44 minutes); A Hyland for Daly (49 minutes); and A Coss replaced Walsh at three minutes past regulated time.