THE WEXFORD Minor ladies brought home the Model county's second All-Ireland title of the year when they beat Tipperary in Freshford on Saturday last. The Kilkenny club was also the venue when Wexford's Under-14 team lifted the corresponding 'B' title on June 13 last, with Tipperary providing the opposition on that day too.

Tipperary came into this game with their homework done, as they were well aware of the threat from Katie Redmond, Aisling Murphy and Fiona Bennett in the forward line. However, they hadn't planned on the self-belief, team spirit and total commitment of this young Wexford side.

Such was Wexford's determination, that Kate Caulfield travelled through Friday night to catch a flight from France to Dublin, from where she was transported to Freshford to play her part. Meanwhile, seven of her team-mates sold their Oxygen festival tickets to ensure that they were fully prepared to pull on the Wexford jersey and bridge a 24-year gap since the county last won a Minor title.

Tipperary piled on the pressure from the start and were seven points clear at the end of the first quarter (1-5 to 0-1). It looked as though the wheels were about to come off the Wexford rollercoaster.

The Premier County set up camp in the Wexford half, with their forwards dominating play and tormenting the defence, with Niamh Myles notching a brace of points. Corner-forward Gráinne Gorman had a goal chance blocked by Wexford's number three, Bríd Doyle, but the Tipp. forward raised the white flag in the eighth minute to put them three points clear.

Katie Redmond, who thought her 18th birthday had got off to the worst possible start, opened Wexford's account in the ninth minute, with the Crossabeg-Ballymurn player latching on to an accurate pass from Mairéad Sheehan to tap over her first of seven points.

Wexford were struggling to get a foothold, and ten minutes had slipped away before they called the umpire into action for the second time. Aisling Murphy and Redmond added a point apiece to put a total of three points on the board, reducing the gap to six (16 to 0-3). Although Redmond pared a further two points off Tipperary's lead, Niamh Myles hit back with the Premier's second goal to rock the Wexford side, and set the alarm bells ringing in the purple and gold camp, with seven points separating the sides at the break (2-6 to 0-5).

Wexford's management team, led by Billy Donnelly, called the Minors to the dressing-room, knowing they would have to use all their experience to lift this side, while the Tipperary team remained on the pitch for their half-time talk. The large number of stunned Wexford supporters were in deep conversation, dissecting their team's first-half performance.

A large cheer from the Wexford supporters signalled the return of the team, and without delay a second cheer went out when Billy Donnelly's daughter, Clara, rattled the back of Jennifer Russell's net within a minute of the re-start to put the rollercoaster back on track.

Four minutes later, Sarah Roche was one on one with Russell, but the Tipperary ' keeper pulled her to the ground, giving referee Shaun Duane no option but to award Wexford a penalty.

Aisling Murphy stepped up to the spot, and dispatched the ball to the right of Russell. In fairness to the Tipp. netminder she got a fingertip to the ball, but Murphy's shot had too much pace, hitting the roof of the net and reducing the gap to the narrowest of margins (2-6 to 2-5).

Wexford introduced Fiona Bennett into the fray, to give the Tipperary defenders a little more to think about. At the other end, Wexford's back line were also playing their part, protecting Charlotte McCormack's goal.

However, there was nothing they could do when Eimear Myles' lobbed free kick dropped into the Wexford net, although captain Charlotte McCormack protested that the ball had dropped through a hole in the top of the net. Despite her protests the green flag was raised, and Tipp's Siobhán Condon tagged on their final point to put her side five points clear (3-7 to 2-5) as the game moved into the final quarter.

With their backs to the wall, the Wexford side made a final push for the winning line. Clara Donnelly added her second goal, with Aoife Tormey and Aisling Murphy pointing to level the sides (3-7 apiece) for the first time in the game.

Wexford were not finished, as Murphy added a further point to put the Model county ahead for the first time, with player of the match Katie Redmond firing over two points from frees to open a three-point gap.

Tipperary made one final attack, with Gráinne Gorman weaving her through the Wexford defence to fire a rocket-like shot towards McCormack's goal, but the ever-alert Wexford number one was equal to the shot, diving full length to her right to push the ball out for a 45-metre free which was cleared from the danger area.

With less than five minutes to go, Wexford were awarded a second penalty, and after a little discussion Katie Redmond was instructed to tap it over the bar to give Wexford a well-deserved four-point winning margin.

President of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, Pat Quill, congratulated both counties, their mentors and all those involved in preparing the teams and the venue for the final.

While commiserating with Tipperary, he was delighted to present the All-Ireland Minor 'B' trophy to Wexford captain, Charlotte McCormack, and the player of the match award to Katie Redmond.

- MICHAEL FORDE In Freshford