TIPPERARY INTERMEDIATE TEAM
Match Report by Assistant PRO, Declan O’Shea
The Tipperary Intermediate Ladies football team travelled to Fraher Field Dungarvan on Saturday 20th June to play Waterford in this, their second outing in the 2015 Intermediate Championship. Previously in their opening round game with Clare a much improved performance saw Tipperary challenge the championship favourites right to the end before a late goal flattered the Clare team with a five point win in Clare. Waterford in their first outing had defeated Limerick by seven points. Today’s game against Waterford was expected to be another close and tense encounter provided of course that Tipperary could maintain their improvement with a more settled look to their team. Waterford have been dominant in Munster at this grade in recent years and were not about to relinquish their title easily. In an earlier league outing with Waterford, played in Ardfinnan, Tipperary had been defeated by four points in an exciting game. Waterford on the other hand had a good league outing but had lost to Sligo in the League Final somewhat against the odds. Both teams are by now very familiar with one another and in an added twist three of the Tipperary Ladies play their club football with Ballymacarbry in Co Waterford.
Tipperary won the toss and elected to play against the wind. After an initial Waterford attack and a wide Tipperary registered the opening point of the game with a Gillian O’Brien point from play. Waterford then replied with three points of their own, two from centre forward Maria Delahunty who was to prove more than a handful throughout the game. An Aisling McCarthy point from a free saw Tipperary get to within a point but from here on the Waterford girls moved through the gears and added scores with almost every attack. The Tipperary defence were opened up time and time again and it was only a matter of time before the goals came. So it proved and when Waterford scored their first goal from midfielder Louise Ryan on twenty minutes the flood gates opened. The Tipperary team appeared shell shocked and by half time the game was effectively over with Waterford 4-11 to 0-4 ahead. Everything Waterford did was done at pace and precision. This was a team still hurting from a league final defeat some weeks previously who were now obviously out to make a statement of intent.
The second half began with another Waterford point before Tipperary replied with a goal from Gillian O’Brien following a strong run and pass from midfielder Lorraine O’Shea. This however was to be Tipperary’s only score of the second half and Waterford continued where they had left off adding a further 2 goals and six points despite playing against a strong breeze. Tipperary lost attacker Aisling McCarthy to injury early in the second half further adding to their growing problems on the field. Shortly afterwards Tipperary’s Sheelagh Carew received a nasty blow to the face and was also forced to retire. Tipperary introduced Shauna Ryan, Gemma O’Dwyer and Elaine Butler but for this Tipperary team today there was no respite from the relentless Waterford onslaught. Waterford were simply best everywhere on the field and for Tipperary it will be a difficult defeat to forget. Forget it they must and take the next opportunity against Limerick next Saturday 27th June in Ardfinnan. This Waterford team have Munster titles galore in recent years but the big one still eludes them. Based on their performance today it will take some team to stop them in 2015.
Full Time score Tipperary 1-04 Waterford 6-18
Tipperary: Lauren Fitzpatrick; Bernie Ryan, Maria Curley, Sinead Delahunty; Niamh Lonergan, Louise Cadell, Roisin McGrath; Anne O ‘Dwyer, Lorraine O’Shea; Breda Feeney, Gillian O’Brien, Aoife Ryan; Aimee Pollard, Aisling McCarthy, Sarah Everard.
Subs Used: Laura Dillon for Sinead Delahunty, Sheelagh Carew for Breda Feeney, Shauna Ryan for Aimee Pollard, Elaine Butler for Aisling McCarthy and Gemma O’Dwyer for Sheelagh Carew.
THURLES SPORTS FESTIVAL – ENDA MCDONNELL MEMORIAL CUP
For the second year Thurles Sports Festival will host the Enda McDonnell Memorial Cup. This is a 7 a side Ladies Football competition catering for Intermediate and Junior clubs around Ireland and within Tipperary. Full details and application form for the competition are available on the website, www.tipperaryladiesfootball.ie
FÉILE NA PEIL
Aherlow will travel to Féile Na Peil in County Wexford on the weekend of the 26th to 28th June. They will play two matches on the Friday evening; Aherlow v Taghmon Camross at 5.00pm and v Portlaoise at 6.00pm. Both games are fixed for Taghmon. Their third game is Saturday morning at 11.00am against hosts Horsewood. Depending on the results of the three matches Aherlow will either have a Shield Quarter Final at 3.45pm or a Cup Quarter Final at 5.15pm in Pairc Gharman. The Semi Finals and Finals for the Shield and the Cup will take place on Sunday morning in Ferns Centre of Excellence. We wish Aherlow team and mentors the very best of luck and hope that they have a wonderful fun weekend.
UNDER 8 AND UNDER 10 BLITZ
Tipperary Ladies Football hosted a non-competitive blitz for all Tipperary Clubs in Rockwell College on Saturday last. The blitz was well attended and all the players had a fantastic day playing football in the sunshine. Well done to Ardfinnan, Arravale Rovers, Clonmel Óg, Clonmel Commercials, Fethard, Moycarkey (2 teams), Templemore for taking part in the Under 10 blitz. In the Under 8 blitz was Arravale Rovers, Clerihan, Clonmel Óg, Fethard, Galtee Rovers, Moycarkey (2 teams), Templemore.
Thanks to Ed Burke, Development Officer for organising the blitz and Rockwell College for providing their excellent facilities.
PRIMARY SCHOOL BLITZ
As a follow on to the Primary School Coaching which was offered to Primary Schools via their clubs Tipperary Ladies Football hosted a Primary School Blitz in Moyle Rovers GAA Club recently. Well done to all the schools who entered the blitz and congratulations to the Primary Schools who won the competitions.
Winners are as follows –
A Cup – Ballylooby, A Plate – Moycarkey, B Cup – Powerstown, B Plate – Ballyneale, C Cup – Drangan, C Plate – Moyne, D Cup – Cahir, D Plate – Borrisoleigh, E Cup – Lismackin, E Plate – Kilcash, F Cup – Moyglass, F Plate – Powerstown (2)
Other Primary Schools who entered the blitz are Clerihan, Bansha, Fethard, Knockavilla, Newport, Lisronagh, Rathkeevin, Burncourt, Drom, Barnane, St Joseph’s (2), Skeheenarinky, St Michael’s, St Joseph’s (1), Newport (2)
Thanks to Moyle Rovers for the making their outstanding amenities available to Tipperary Ladies Football.
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.
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 23rd Jun
