Ladies Almost Cause an Upset

Sunday 14.07.2019

County

Tyrone 3-10 Mayo 3-13


Tyrone opened the scoring in the 2nd minute when Chloe McCaffrey landed a long range point. That score was cancelled out three minutes later as Grace Kelly converted a close range free for the visitors followed by the opening score from full forward Rachel Kearns in the 6th minute. Cappagh’s Caitlin Kelly levelled the sides just a few seconds later before Mayo’s Sarah Rowe clipped over a point. Mayo sensed the opportunity to push on and Grace Kelly latched onto a Rachel Kearns pass in the 7th minute finishing neatly to the Tyrone net.

The Tyrone girls did their best to respond from the setback, Niamh O’Neill sending over the first of her four points on the day, but danger woman Rachel Kearns rifled the ball to the roof of the Tyrone net to leave the visitors 2-3 to 0-3 ahead by the 10th minute. O’Neill and Rowe then swapped points from play before the scoring began to dry up a little following the blistering start to the game. Niamh O’Neill and Rachel Kearns both got a point from play in the 24th minute as Mayo maintained the six point gap.

Tyrone remained competitive and shared a good part of the possession and it was this competiveness that led to their opening goal five minutes from the break. Slaine McCarroll turned over possession in the midfield area and after a short series of passes Niamh O’Neill raced in and blasted the ball past Mayo goalkeeper Aishling Tarpey. That score energised the Red Hand’s with Caoileann Conway, Christiane Hunter and Tori McLaughlin beginning to win their individual battles in defence.

Maria Canavan hit her first free in the 28th minute and following a turnover thanks to a Christiane Hunter block, Niamh McGirr reduced the Mayo lead to the minimal. Mayo were to finish the half two up however as Grace Kelly kicked a point from play. Half time score Tyrone 1-7 Mayo 2-6.

Tyrone made the perfect start to the second half. Within thirty seconds the strong running Niamh O’Neill rolled in her second goal edging the home side into the lead for the first time since the 3rd minute. Grace Kelly did level the game for the third time from a free but Errigal Ciaran’s Maria Canavan had the Red Hand’s back in front by the 38th minute. A slick passing move involving McHugh, Gervin and Canavan resulted in the latter coolly slipping the ball to the Mayo net. Tyrone saw a further goal chance flash by the post a minute later. Niamh O’Neill’s shot narrowly missing the top right hand corner of the Mayo net. Mayo responded by slotting points from Rowe and Cafferky to reduce the Tyrone advantage to a single point.

Niamh O’Neill edged Tyrone two clear in the 48th minute but that score marked the last time Tyrone would lead in the game. The brilliant Rachel Kearns smacked home a goal in the 49th minute followed by a Sarah Rowe point. Tyrone 3-8 Mayo 3-10. A Maria Canavan free and a second free from the same player were responded to by Lisa Cafferky and Emma Needham points as Mayo entered injury time two points ahead. Canavan and Gaughan swapped points in time added on before Rachel Kearns kicked the last score of an absorbing contest. Final Score : Tyrone 3-11 Mayo 3-14.

Tyrone : S Lynch, C Hunter, J Barrett, C Conway, E Brennan, T McLaughlin, N McGirr (0-1), EJ Gervin, S McCarroll, N Hughes, M Canavan (1-4), A McHugh, N O’Neill (1-4), C Kelly (0-1), C McCaffrey (1-1)

Tyrone Subs : S Sheerin for J Barrett

Mayo : A Tarpey, N O’Malley, R Flynn, D Caldwell, E Rayane, C McManamon, K Sullivan, C McManamon, D Finn, R Durlin, S Cafferky (0-1), N Kelly, S Rowe (0-4) , R Kearns (2-4), G Kelly (1-2)

Mayo Subs : E Needham (0-1) for R Durkin, L Cafferky (0-1) for E Rayane, N Meehan for N O’Malley, N Gaughan (0-1) for G Kelly

Referee : B Rice (Down)