Shefflin awaits first win as Kilkenny boss as Cats lose on the road

Tommy Shefflin's Kilkenny are still in search of their first win in the Very Camogie League after falling to an away defeat to Tipperary in The Ragg.

The Banner were in complete control, responding well to score three of the last four points when Caoimhe Keher Murtagh’s goal after 52 minutes threatened to set Kilkenny up for a smash and grab win against the run of play.

Aoife Prendergast opened the scoring for the visitors and the contest was still evenly poised when Aobha O’Gorman split the uprights after 17 minutes to leave just a point between the sides, but Tipperary were clearly the superior side in the second and third quarters, scoring ten out of the next twelve points. The platform for their dominance was at midfield and half-back, where Player of the Match Mairéad Eviston, as well as Niamh Treacy and Caoimhe McCarthy, excelled.

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Conditions were tricky for both sides but there was no strong wind advantage either way, so when two Caoimhe Maher points helped to establish a four-point lead at the break, Denis Kelly’s side would have felt they were in the driving seat. Two each from Grace O’Brien and Clodagh McIntyre made it 0-12 to 0-4 going into the final quarter, but a couple of frees from Prendergast kept Kilkenny in touch, while Laura Murphy was exceptional for the Cats, battling against the tide.

Aobha O’Gorman’s strong run helped to set up the goal for Keher Murtagh but late points from Grace O’Brien and Róisín Howard ensured that Tipperary sealed a fully-merited win.