Munster Minor Championship Round 1
Tipperary 3-06
Kerry 1-10
Referee: Conor McCarthy (Cork)
Report: Paul Murphy
Kerry began the 2025 season with a defeat away to Tipperary on Saturday in Fethard Town Park. On the match day program Kerry had eight from last year’s panel while Tipperary had ten. Played in ideal conditions the home side got off to the perfect start inside the first minute with a point from Grace Hogan. Kerry were slow to get going and didn’t register their first score till the eleventh minute with a point from Anna O’Sullivan. Muireann Teahan popped over one from a free and play as the Kingdom opened up a two-point lead with seventeen minutes gone on the clock. The Kingdom had chances to further extend the lead throughout the first half but were guilt of some poor misses despite getting into some good scoring opportunities. They would register nine wides in the first half compared to Tipperary’s four. Tipperary reduced the deficit to one with a point from Aoife Shelly before a goal from Julie Grey saw them take a two-point lead with eight minutes of the half remaining. She spotted the keeper off her line and took the opportunity well. Kerry did respond with a point from Mary Kate Smith but another goal from Aoife Shelly saw Tipperary open up a four-point lead as the sides exchanges points with Tipperary going in at the break four points in front. Tipperary carried on like they finished the first and scored two points on the trot to extend the lead out to six at the start of the second half. The home side were full value for their lead as the Kingdom went in search of a respond to ignite their challenge. They soon got that with a goal from Lucy O’Connor. Both sides made a brace of substitutions and also exchanged frees from Grace Hogan and Muireann Teahan. Kerry were reduced to fourteen on the 47 minute when Roisin Daly received yellow. Despite the disadvantage Kerry scored the next two points one from a free and play courtesy of Muireann Teahan. Tipperary were now only one point in front as Kerry drew level with four minutes remaining. They took the lead shortly after from substitute Lori O’Connor but unfortunately all their hard work was undone when Tipperary substitute Sarah English scored a goal late in the game. It was to prove crucial as Tipperary held out for the win despite Kerry throwing everything at it in the dying stages in the hope of salvaging a late winner which unfortunately alluded them.
Tipperary Team & Scorers: K Hennessy, É Grace, T Bourke, K Cremins, A Ryan, I Carr (0-01), E Cuddihy, M Crowe (C), S O’Carroll (0-01), S O’Grady, L O’Brien, J Grey (1-0), G Hogan (0-03 – 1f), A Shelly (1-01), E Duffy
Subs: M Cunneen for S O’Grady 38min, S English (1-0) for J Grey 38min, K Nevin for A Shelly 39min, L Maher for G Hogan 49min, K Bailey Moloney for E Duffy 62min
Kerry Team & Scorers: A O’Shaughnessy, S Colleran, G Murphy, R Daly, J Lee O’Connor, S Randles, L O’Sullivan, A O’Donoghue, A O’Sullivan (0-01), H Nic Gearailt, M Teahan (0-06 – 3f, L O’Connor (1-0), S O’Sullivan, M Kate Smith (0-02), P O’Donovan
Subs: L O’Connor (0-01) for S O’Sullivan h/t, N Burke for S Colleran 39min, K Riordan for A O’Sullivan 39min, D Healy for P O’Donovan 49min, C McHugh for H NicGearailt 53min, R Cahill for G Murphy 60min, S Harkin for S Randles 64min
