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Galway Next Up For Tyrone Ladies
Friday 20.02.2015
The Tyrone senior ladies return to division one league action this weekend with a tricky clash with Galway. They go into the tie on the back of two defeats but with an air of expectancy that they can get something out of Sunday’s tie.
The loss to Monaghan last time out saw Tyrone concede a few goals but just three second half points and both Tony McVeigh and Tiffy Quinn will take the positives from the latter as they prepare their team for the trip West. It’s quite clear though it will be yet another difficult test for a youthful looking Tyrone who are expected to welcome back Cathy Donnelly for her first outing of the year after a long term injury stretching back to last year’s Ulster championship exit.
Since the loss to Monaghan at Emyvale Tyrone eased to a big win over Fermanagh in a midweek challenge game while several girls were also involved in third level competition. It is all about points though this Sunday and Tyrone could do with hitting a few on the park as well as securing points on the league table.
Tyrone have been far from potent up front so far this term, 2-3 against Kerry and 2-5 against Monaghan tells its own story. The management will be keen to see Donnelly back in the mix up front but other players too must step up to the plate if the O’Neill county are to get something out of another away trip.
Galway enjoyed a very good draw last time out against Dublin in Tuam, the home side rattling in two goals. With results like that they will start very much as fancied to annex a full haul of points this weekend, sitting as they do second from top. There’s no doubt too that this Galway side will be a force again at championship level later in the Summer.
The Tyrone side have enjoyed their build up though, a month of cancelled sessions due to weather is behind the squad now and the mood in the camp explains McVeigh has been positive in spite of the recent league defeats.
“The girls have been working hard over the past fortnight. It was important they tried to get that Monaghan loss out of their system and both myself and Tiffy have put the girls through their paces. They have been positive throughout but its all about getting that positive approach on Sunday”
There’s no fresh injury concerns and several new formations have been tested in recent days as a few new girls have joined the set up. Experience though is still very much to the fore and it’s vitally important the older girls show leadership during the remainder of this difficult league campaign.
These fixtures will offer Tyrone no opportunities of easy points and they certainly require at least three points to give themselves any chance of avoiding the drop.
Sunday’s game at Tuam throws in at 2pm with Donnelly added to the squad and with no fresh injury issues for the management.