Tipperary Ladies Football commenced their National Football League in the sunny South East in Bannow/Ballymitty GAA Grounds, Wexford on Sunday last. The team under the new management of John Leahy, Mullinahone had eight of the starting line out from the last year’s All Ireland team. There was a welcome return promotion for Sinead Delahunty, Siobhan Condon and Kelly Hackett who were part of the All-Ireland team panel while Aisling O’Connor and Bernie Ryan made their debuts in goal and midfield respectively.
Scoring was to start early in the game with both teams eager to show their dominance. Niamh Moore, Kilmore was first to find the posts with a point in the second minute of the game but Tipperary’s Lorraine O’Shea netted the ball in the third minute to give Tipp the lead they would retain throughout the game. Tipperary registered three more quick points to Wexford’s one point before the freeflow of the game would return for the next ten minutes when neither team registered a score. In the nineteenth minute Gillian O’Brien pointed the ball for her second score of the game. Wexford’s Fiona Bennett from the kick out found the net for their last score of the first half while Tipperary’s Edith Carroll scored registered two points and Gillian O’Brien got her third. At the break the score line was Tipperary 1-7 Wexford 1-2
Wexford again registered the first score of the half with a Katie Redmond point from within a minute of the ball being thrown in. It took nine minutes for the next score of the game which came a free taken by Mairead Morrissey. Kelly Hackett registered Tipp’s next point when she collected the ball from a missed free chance by Mairead Morrissey. Wexford responded well adding three more points to their score line to come within four points of Tipperary within ten minutes in the game. It was looking like anyone’s game until Mairead Morrissey collected the ball in midfield with only the goals in sight. The Wexford goalie, Katie Sludds came out to meet her resulting in a free for Tipperary. Jennifer Grant took the 13 metre free with only the back of the net in mind and duly raised the green flag to put the Premier Ladies back into a comfortable lead. Gillian O’Brien and Edith Carroll added another point each to the score line. Due to an injury to Mairead Morrissey there was approximately five minutes injury time which Wexford used to kick the last three points of the game to leave Tipperary winners by a six point margin. The full time score Tipperary 2-12 Wexford 1-9
Tipperary Team
Aisling O’Connor (Cahir), Sinead Delahunty (Foxrock/Cabinteely), Barbara Ryan (Moyle Rovers – Captain), Rachel Kenneally (Aherlow), Siobhan Condon (Aherlow), Claire Carroll (Galtee Rovers), Maeve Hackett (Moycarkey Borris), Jennifer Grant (Brian Borus), Bernie Ryan (Upperchurch), Niamh Lonergan (Moyle Rovers), Mairead Morrissey (Brian Borus), Lorraine O’Shea (Mullinahone), Gillian O’Brien (Moyle Rovers), Kelly Hackett (Moycarkey Borris) Edith Carroll (Galtee Rovers)
Subs used – Brid Condon for Maeve Hackett, Emer Myles for Bernie Ryan, Shauna Ryan for Sinead Delahunty
Scorers – Edith Carroll 0-4, Gillian O’Brien 0-4, Jennifer Grant 1-0, Lorraine O’Shea 1-0, Mairead Morrissey 0-2 (frees), Niamh Lonergan 0-1, Kelly Hackett 0-1
Tipperary, under the new management team of John Leahy, Mullinahone and Martin Halpin, Cahir have named a strong team with 9 of the starting line-up from last year’s narrow defeat to Cavan in the All-Ireland Intermediate Final. Sinead Delahunty, Siobhan Condon and Kelly Hackett are promoted to the starting line-up on this occasion having been part of the All-Ireland Final squad while Edith Carroll makes a welcome return to the team after a short break. Aisling O’Connor and Bernie Ryan will make their debuts at this level in goal and midfield respectively.
Tipperary National Football League Team:
1. Aisling O’Connor, Cahir
2. Sinead Delahunty, Foxrock/Cabinteely
3. Samantha Lambert, Ardfinnan
4. Rachel Kenneally, Aherlow
5. Siobhan Condon, Aherlow
6. Claire Carroll, Galtee Rovers
7. Barbara Ryan, Moyle Rovers (Captain)
8. Jennifer Grant, Brian Borus
9. Bernie Ryan, Upperchurch
10. Niamh Lonergan, Moyle Rovers
11. Mairead Morrissey, Brian Borus
12. Lorraine O’Shea, Mullinahone
13. Gillian O’Brien, Moyle Rovers
14. Kelly Hackett, Moycarkey Borris
15. Edith Carroll, Galtee Rovers
Wexford ladies football manager has named his team for the opening round of the Tesco Homegrown National Ladies Football Division 3 opener vs Tipperary in Granstown this Sunday at 2pm. See a new interview by Kate Kelly with their manager Billy Donnelly now on the Wexford GAA TV YouTube Channel http://youtu.be/l1B8LSAc1zI
1. Katie Sludds
2. Ciara Corrigan
3. Marguerite Doyle
4. Roisin Fitzgerald
5. Ciara Neville
6. Caitriona McCabe
7. Sharon Kehoe
8. Maria Byrne
9. Clara Donnelly
10. Julie Coakley
11. Fiona Rochford
12. Niamh Moore
13. Katie Redmond
14. Fiona Bennett
15. Siobhan Cloake
By Jonathan Cullen Sun 2nd Feb
