TIPPERARY INTERMEDIATE TEAM
On Sunday last Sligo made the long trip to Tipperary to Ned Hall Park, Clonmel for their Round 4 game in the Tesco Homegrown National Football League. They met previously in last year’s League when Tipperary defeated them by ten points in Sligo IT GAA Grounds. Sligo coming from a Round three victory over Offaly and scoring 6-13 on the day were not going to be an easy game for Tipperary.
In the opening seven minutes of the game Tipperary laid down a marker straight away with a five point lead; three from Gillian O’Brien and one each from Mairead Morrissey and Claire Carroll. Sligo’s Noelle Gormley raised the green flag in the seventh minute to lessen the divide but Tipperary’s Claire Carroll returned the double score deficit with a point in the tenth minute. Both teams had now settled and the game flowed with very little between the sides for the next five minutes until Tipperary’s Lorraine O’Shea sustained an injury due to a collision with a Sligo player. Maeve Hackett was called from the bench to replace Lorraine in the seventeenth minute. This break in play unsettled the Tipperary team and Sligo regrouped and took advantage by scoring two goals and two points in the next five minutes to take control of the game and race in to a five point lead. Tipperary stopped the rot in the twenty fourth minute with a point from Alison Lonergan. This proved to be an important score as Tipperary finished the half stronger and goals by Mairead Morrissey and Gillian O’Brien helped the Premier County to a one point interval lead – Tipperary 2-7 Sligo 3-3.
Tipperary came out in the second half knowing that they would have the advantage of the wind and scored two unanswered points before Sligo’s Stephanie O’Reilly equalised the game with another goal. Shauna Ryan put Tipperary back on top when she scored a point though, Sligo’s ability to score goals was making it very hard for Tipperary to retain the lead. In the fortieth minute Stephanie again netted the ball to put Sligo out in front by two points. Tipperary responded with points from the Carroll sisters Edith and Claire to bring the sides level heading in to the final quarter. The game was now in the melting pot but with 11 minutes remaining, Edith Carroll scored a Tipperary goal to put them in front for good. Having put in a valiant effort which resulted in five goals, Sligo were visibly tiring and Tipperary took full advantage in the closing stages. Alison Lonergan scored two late goals while Shauna Ryan also raised a green flag and by the final whistle, Tipperary ran out winners by a flattering 13 point margin – Tipperary 6-13 Sligo 5-3. In these difficult weather conditions Tipperary Ladies County Board would like to thank Clonmel ￓg for the use of their facilities which were to the highest possible standards.
Tipperary Team
Aisling O’Connor (Cahir), Brid Condon (Aherlow), Samantha Lambert (Ardfinnan), Sinead Delahunty (Foxrock/Cabinteely), Siobhan Condon (Aherlow), Jennifer Grant (Brian Borus), Barbara Ryan (Moyle Rovers – Captain), Niamh Lonergan (Moyle Rovers), Gillian O’Brien (Moyle Rovers), Edith Carroll (Galtee Rovers), Claire Carroll (Galtee Rovers), Lorraine O’Shea (Mullinahone), Alison Lonergan (Galtee Rovers), Mairead Morrissey (Brian Borus), Shauna Ryan (Ballymacarbry).
Subs used – Maeve Hackett (Moycarkey Borris) for Lorraine O’Shea (Mullinahone), Lorraine O’Shea (Mullinahone) for Niamh Lonergan (Moyle Rovers), Rachel Kenneally (Aherlow) for Maeve Hackett (Moycarkey Borris)
Scorers – Alison Lonergan 2-1, Gillian O’Brien 1-3, Mairead Morrissey 1-2 (0-1 frees), Shauna Ryan 1-2, Claire Carroll 0-4, Edith Carroll 1-1
TIPPERARY U14 TEAM
Tipperary opened their U14 Munster Championship with a home tie against Limerick. The game was a very tense affair as both teams were not giving much away. The first fifteen minutes flew by without a score and this was mainly due to some great defending from both teams. Emma Cronin, Rachel O’Donnell and Caoimhe Comerford kept Limerick at bay by not letting them past the half back line. Limerick began to apply a little pressure and they forced a great save from Alice Browning in the Tipperary goal. Controversy struck in the twentieth minute when Limerick sent in a high ball which Tipperary dealt with well but the umpires deemed it over the line.
This is when Tipperary turned up the gears. Tipperary began to invade the Limerick goal with 3-4 goal chances and numerous point opportunities but luck was not on their side as they all went wide. Tipperary got a penalty which Sarah Delaney stepped up and knocked it over the bar and soon after Roisin Daly added a goal and a point to put Tipperary in front by two. Limerick got two quick fire points to leave the score level at half time. Tipperary 1-2 Limerick 1-2
The second half was to follow the same trend. Limerick showed great physical strength in winning a lot of hard earned ball. Sarah Delaney and Katie Cunningham stood up tall and didn’t let Limerick gain any momentum. Tipperary just could not put the points on the board and Limerick added four scores. Four points down and looking down and out, Tipperary worked a lovely ball into Caoimhe Ryan who took on her marker and finished in the back of the net. Tipperary took the driving seat with some great moves orchestrated by the half-forward line. Anna-Rose Kennedy caught some great ball and gave some great layoffs but luck just did not go Tipperary’s way. Between the cross bar and the post, Tipp could not get the score they required to level it up and Limerick went on to win by 1 point on a score line of 1-6 to 2-2
Tipperary Team
Alice Browning (Mullinahone), Caoimhe Comerford (Arravale Rovers), Laura Stocksborough (Fethard), Sophie Ryan (Fethard), Anna Carey (Clonmel Commercials), Rachel O’Donnell (Cahir), Emma Cronin (Moyle Rovers), Katie Cunningham (Lattin Cullen), Sarah Delaney (Boherlahan), Marie Creedon (Thurles Sarsfields), Linda Murphy (Brian Borus), Anna-Rose Kennedy (Aherlow), Roisin Daly (Moyne Templetuohy), Niamh Keane (St. Patrick’s), Saoirse O’Meara (Moycarkey Borris).
Scorers – Roisin Daly 1-1, Caoimhe Ryan 1-0, Sarah Delaney 0-1
BON VOYAGE
Tipperary Ladies County Board would like to extend a bon voyage to Mairead Morrissey as she heads to Hong Kong with the Ladies Gaelic Football All Star Team.
TIPPERARY POST PRIMARY SCHOOL BLITZ
Tipperary Ladies Gaelic Football are organising a Post Primary Ladies Football Blitz for pupils who are Under 15. The Blitz will be held in Thurles on Friday March 28th for further details check out www.tipperaryladiesfootball.ie
LADIES REGISTRATION GOES ONLINE
Ladies Gaelic Football Association is introducing a new online registration. All players due to registered in the coming year will have to be registered online and registrars need to be prepared. Full details are available on www.tipperaryladiesfootball.ie
Information concerning Ladies Football will appear in these notes. If you wish to include any item of interest, please contact us at ladiesfootballtipperary@gmail.com before 8pm on Sunday. Visit the Tipperary Ladies Football web site at www.tipperaryladiesfootball.ie keep up to date with all the latest news in Tipperary Ladies Football.
By Jonathan Cullen Mon 3rd Mar
