TIPPERARY UNDER 16 CHAMPIONSHIP
Report by Mark Prout (Fethard)
The Under 16 Ladies County A Final was played in New Inn on Friday last involving Fethard and Moyle Rovers. In conditions more accustomed to winter rather than the first day of summer, the two teams took to the field in what promised to be a titanic affair. Having played out a drawn game in the group stages there was never going too much between these local rivals and that’s how it proved to be.
Fethard hit the ground running and after a good passing move the ball fell to Fethard corner forward Maggie Fitzgerald who turned her marker to fire the ball to the back of the net after only a minute. This did not phase Moyle Rovers however and they responded with two points from full forward Kirsty Crotty Ryan in the fifth and eighth minute. Moyle Rovers were now commanding possession and a superb fifty yard run from wing back Emma Cronin ended with her netting a sublime goal in the fourteenth minute. Moyle Rovers now led by two points. Fethard reeling from this set about trying to get a grip on the game and on the seventeenth minute Fethard captain, Kate Davey collected a loose ball and powered her way towards goal finding the net with a terrific effort. Fethard were now in the ascendency and after a Katie Ryan shot had hit the bar a foul on Maggie Fitzgerald in the square led to a penalty. The spot kick was duly dispatched by Kate Davey in the nineteenth minute. Two minutes later Fethard were awarded a second penalty for an infringement in the square but this time the outcome was different as Kate Davey sent her kick wide of the post. With conditions deteriorating both sides struggled to maintain possession and there were no scores for the remainder of the half. Half time – Fethard 3-0 Moyle Rovers 1-2.
The second half was only minutes old when Kirsty Crotty Ryan opened the scoring with a superb long range point. Moyle Rovers were now laying siege to the Fethard goal with only some last gasp defending and brave goalkeeping
keeping Moyle Rovers at bay. This did not deter Moyle Rovers however as Kirsty Crotty Ryan was imperious from distance and added points in the sixth, ninth and a free in the eleventh minute. With the score now level Fethard were finding it hard to get out of their own half and a rare foray up field led to substitute Alison Connolly scoring a delightful point with virtually her first touch of the ball for Fethard to lead by a point again. Normal service resumed for Moyle Rovers again and they were again encamped outside the Fethard twenty one. It was backs to the wall stuff from Fethard but Moyle Rovers kept scoring from range with four unanswered points from Aine Fitzgerald (22nd), Kirsty Crotty Ryan (23rd, 26th) and substitute Rachael Browne (24th) to now lead by three points with four minutes remaining. This seemed to spark Fethard to life and now the roles reversed and following a long range point from Molly O’Meara on the twenty seventh minute Fethard were dominating possession. Full back Laura Stocksborough now deployed at full forward slotted over a point on twenty nine minutes to reduce the deficit to the minimum and set up a nailbiting finish. The decisive moment of the game came as we entered injury time. With Fethard pushing for an equaliser Laura Stocksborogh seized on a loose ball thirty yards from goal evaded two tackles and powered a left footed strike to the back of the net to give Fethard a two point lead with only seconds remaining. Still Moyle Rovers attacked and only for some slick defending from Lucy Spillane and Lauren Dowling saw Fethard retrieve possession with the latter carrying the ball to safety. With that the final whistle blew on what was an enthralling encounter between two evenly matched teams who played the game at an incredible level despite the adverse weather conditions. Final Score – Fethard 4-3 Moyle Rovers 1-10.
There were great individual performances throughout from both sides no more so than County stars Kirsty Crotty Ryan who tallied 0-8 and Kate Davey with 2-0.
Fethard captain Kate Davey received the cup on behalf of her team and with that drew a close on the U-16 A championship for this year.
Moyle Rovers Panel – Amy Norris, Louise Norris, Sarah O’Dwyer(capt), Cathy O’Dwyer, Rosin Breen, Chloe Boland, Emma Cronin (1-0), Orla Burke, Cora Maher, Aine Fitzgerald (0-1), Jenny Everard, Rachael Timlin, Rowena Dowling, Kirsty Crotty Ryan (0-8), Sophie Delaney, Claire Moore, Rachael Browne (0-1), Emma Moore Kelly, Aileen Ryan, Kelly Ryan, Hannah Mallekoote, Clare O’Dywer.
Fethard Panel – Rachel Prout, Lucy Spillane, Laura Stocksborough (1-1), Sophie Ryan, Amy Brophy, Lauren Dowling, Ciara Hayes, Muireann O’Connell, Molly O’Meara (0-1), Sally Butler, Megan Coen, Kate Davey (capt) (2-0), Maggie Fitzgerald (1-0), Laoise Stapleton, Katie Ryan, Allison Connolly (0-1), Aine Trayer, Aine O’Connell, Carrie Davey, Leah Coen, Caoimhe O’Meara, Laura O’Donnell, Laura Kiely, Aoibhe Browne
TIPPERARY U16 TEAM
Waterford defeated Clare in the Munster U16 Championship on Saturday last so Tipperary will now play Waterford in the Munster U16 B Championship Final on Sunday, May 10th at a venue to be confirmed, follow us on Facebook for the fixture details.
TIPPERARY U14 TEAM
On Saturday last Cork defeated Waterford in the Munster U14 A Championship. As a result Tipperary will now play Waterford in the Munster U14 B Championship on Thursday, May 7th at 7.15pm at a venue to be confirmed, check www.tipperaryladiesfootball.ie
MAILING LIST
If anyone is interested in receiving the weekly football notes or just generally keeping up to date with Tipperary Ladies Football, there is now a mailing list facility available to all, simply log onto the website www.tipperaryladiesfootball.ie and subscribe to the list by entering your email address. This is an excellent facility for keeping up to date with all the news in the County and for other items of interest happening nationally.
TIPPERARY PRIMARY SCHOOL BLITZ
Tipperary Ladies Gaelic Football will be hosting a Primary School Ladies Football Under 13 blitz on June 12th in Moyle Rovers GAA Club starting at 10.00am. This will be a 9 a side competitive blitz. All clubs are asked to ensure the schools in their parish are aware of the blitz. All schools interested in entering should contact Ed Burke, developmentofficer@tipperaryladiesfootball.ie re their entry before May 15th
Information concerning Ladies Football will appear in these notes. If you wish to include any item of interest, please contact us at pro@tipperaryladiesfootball.ie before 8pm on Sunday. Visit the Tipperary Ladies Football web site at www.tipperaryladiesfootball.ie to date with all the latest news in Tipperary Ladies Football.
By Jonathan Cullen Tue 5th May
