TIPPERARY CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
Horse & Jockey Hotel Senior Championship
Cappawhite v Brian Borus by Declan O'Shea, Assistant PRO
The eagerly awaited senior ladies football final was played in ideal conditions in Leahy Park, Cashel as part of a triple header of finals. These two teams are well acquainted with one another with Cappawhite holding the upper hand in recent years. Both teams included many players with intercounty experience both current and former and this game was expected to be a hard hitting affair.
It was Cappawhite who made the better start and the evergreen Sheelagh Carew from midfield showed the way with two settling points in the second and sixth minutes. The game ebbed and flowed up and down the field but it was the Cappawhite defence that came out on top time and time again making the vital interceptions. The Brian Boru forwards could not find their scoring boots and it was not until injury time in the first half that they registered their first score, a point from Cliona O'Dwyer. By this stage Cappawhite had added further points from Costello, Buckley and Coughlan with Carew scoring her third from a free. Brian Borus, Mairead Morrissey was deployed at centre back in the first half in an effort to stem the Cappawhite attacks but this left their forward line without one of their more experienced footballers. Jennifer Grant in midfield for Brian Borus was trying hard but found her best efforts when pressing forward repeatedly stopped by the tight marking Cappawhite defence for whom Elaine Kelly was outstanding. Bernie Ryan for Cappawhite was also winning her midfield battle with Borus Eimear Myles.
Half time score Cappawhite 0-6 Brian Borus 0-1.
At the start of the second half it was clear that Brian Borus were prepared to fight to the end and it was they who now enjoyed a purple patch. Morrissey was raiding forward and she had the first point for them.  Claire Mullins struck a point of her own for Cappawhite but Borus then went on to score three unanswered points from Morrissey and Trisha Hickey (2). Now it was Borus who looked the more dangerous and the Cappawhite keeper Kennedy was forced into an excellent point blank save from Morrissey on the twenty third minute. It was Cappawhite who upped their game now and a tremendous 50 meter run from Angie McDermott the Cappawhite full back was rewarded when her pass found Sinead Buckley who finished to the net. They then added another point from play after which Brian Borus had a well taken free rebound off the cross bar and out of play. Shortly afterwards the final whistle blew and it was Cappawhite who celebrated their fourth consecutive success at this level. Final score Cappawhite 1-8 Brian Borus 0-5.
The Joe McGrath Memorial Cup was presented to Aoife Ryan Cappawhite Captain by County Chairman Tommie Campbell. Aoife thanked everyone involved and especially the players whom said were a joy to train with. The player of the match award went to Cappawhite's number 5 Elaine Kelly, one of the youngest players on the team who led her defence flawlessly throughout the game. Well done to Elaine who has enjoyed an excellent year with an All Ireland minor title some weeks previously.
Cahir House Hotel Intermediate Championship
Boherlahan v Ardfinnan by Declan O'Shea, Assistant PRO
Boherlahan were crowned county Intermediate champions following their hard fought win over Ardfinnan in Leahy Park, Cashel. Laura Dillon opened the scoring for Ardfinnan in the third minute but by the fifteenth minute Boherlahan had opened a nine point lead following three goals  from the on form Orla O'Dwyer playing at centre forward.  All her goals were unstoppable struck with venom from some distance. For the next ten minutes however Ardfinnan held Boherlahan scoreless and registered three unanswered points of their own, two from the hard working Samantha Lambert and another from Ciara Nagle. At half time Boherlahan had the upper hand with a five point lead, 3-02 to Ardfinnan's 0-06.
From the start of the second half it was evident that Ardfinnan were not about to go down without a fight.  They started this half with serious intent outscoring Boherlahan three points to one after ten minutes narrowing the gap to three points. Ardfinnan could indeed have been closer but for two missed opportunities from frees by Samantha Lambert in the third and fourth minutes.  Boherlahan appeared to be in trouble when number 9 and Captain Caroline Ryan was sin binned with less than ten minutes played in the second half. It was now or never for Ardfinnan who pressed forward time and time again. Two more points for Ardfinnan, one from a free by Laura Nagle brought them to within one point of Boherlahan by the seventeenth minute but Boherlahan now appeared to find their second wind and scored two fine points when needed most, one from O'Dwyer and the second from midfielder Ciannait Walsh.
Boherlahan were now back to fifteen on the field and this seemed to settle them and with twenty nine minutes gone on the clock full forward Aine Devane struck for their decisive fourth goal. Try as they might Ardfinnan could not get the scores they now required. Boherlahan keeper Jenny O'Dwyer had made two fine saves when called upon earlier in the game and as the saying goes "goals win games" and this was certainly the case here.  Final score, Boherlahan 4-6 Ardfinnan 0-11
Congratulations to Boherlahan who have made a remarkable journey in the space of three years from Junior 'B' ranks to now Senior status as a result of this victory. Ardfinnan will be disappointed but they lose nothing in defeat as they contested everything to the end and their day will surely come. County Chairman Tommie Campbell presented the cup to Boherlahan Captain and midfielder Caroline Ryan and the player of the match award to her partner in midfield Ciannait Walsh.
Junior A Championship
Galtee Rovers and Templemore competed in a thrilling Junior A Final the last game of the day.  At the final whistle of normal time both teams were level with eleven points each and extra time was needed to separate the teams.  This resulted in Galtee Rovers claiming the title on a final score line of Galtee Rovers 2-13 Templemore 1-13

Information concerning Ladies Football will appear in these notes. If you wish to include any item of interest, please contact us at [email protected] before 8pm on Sunday. Visit the Tipperary Ladies Football web site at www.tipperaryladiesfootball.ie to date with all the latest news in Tipperary Ladies Football.

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