Clare overcome slow start to win Premier Junior final against Tipperary

Clare recovered from an atrocious start and a six-point deficit to record a deserved victory in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Premier Junior final.

The Banner were winning the title for the first time since 2008, when current senior star Chloe Morey was playing, but that was the county's first team and it is reflective of progress Shannonside that they now have a second outfit capable of securing the honours.

Tipperary played the last quarter at a numerical disadvantage, after the 42nd minute sending off of Ciara Brennan on a second yellow card, but they were treading water at that juncture anyway.

They fought hard and actually kept Clare scoreless for the remainder of the game but the damage had been done.

Clare celebrate winning the All-Ireland Junior Camogie title pic.twitter.com/me85bmaiQZ

Brennan opened the scoring for Tipp after 20 seconds as both teams started nervously, though Aoife O'Brien was alert in the goals for the Premier and she would go on to have an outstanding game.

There were missed chances at each end before Tipp scoring machine Jean Kelly made her first contribution with a neat point in the 11th minute. That Kelly would not have the impact of previous outings was a credit to her direct opponent and namesake, the fantastic Rachel Kelly.

The Clare Kelly’s one error led to a Tipp goal three minutes later, the Premier’s 11th of the campaign and amazingly, the first that Jean Kelly hadn’t scored. The defender did very well to come out of a ruck with possession but her hand-pass intended for a supporting colleague was brilliantly intercepted and controlled by Rachel O’Dwyer, who roofed her shot.

A pointed free by Kelly soon after and it was looking good for David Sullivan’s side with a six-point lead.

It was almost