Late Flanagan brace stuns Cats
20:36, 07 Jul 2012
Two goals in the dying embers of the game from super sub Noreen Flanagan snatched victory for Tipperary against old rivals Kilkenny in round 3 of the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship today.
The winners led at half time by 0-10 to 0-7 at Nowlan Park but despite Nicole Walsh, Alice Fogarty and Jill Horan racking up some good scores, they wouldn't have been happy, after squandering numerous scoring opportunities having had a very stiff wind in their favour.
Kilkenny struck early and hard at the start of the second half, when Katie Power set up Michelle Quilty, who hand-passed a goal after just 12 seconds.
From there until the 54th minute, the hosts maintained the upper hand, with Aoife Neary and Power keeping the scoreboard ticking over. 17-year-old Miriam Walsh had also registered two points before being forced to leave the fray with injury.
Tipp introduced three subs in the 48th minute to telling effect. Youngsters Michaela Graham and Sarah Fryday provided the Premier outfit with much more energy but it was Flanagan who changed the course of the game.
Kilkenny still led by five points with six minutes remaining but Flanagan pounced for those two goals break the Noresiders' hearts.