Ladies Overcome Clare At Windswept Garvaghey

Saturday 08.02.2020

County

Tyrone ladies made it back to back wins on Saturday as they saw off the challenge of a talented Clare side in their Division Two League fixture winning 3-7 to 1-7. Both teams struggled to cope with the adverse weather conditions as gale force winds and heavy rain made good football all but impossible.

The heavy rain and strong wind meant there were plenty of misplaced passes and wayward shooting. Aoibheann Mc Hugh, Emma Jane Gervin and Caitlin Kelly scored in the opening ten minutes as Tyrone enjoyed plenty of early possession.
Clare eventually settled and points from Aisling Reidy and Grainne Nolan left one between the teams after twelve minutes as Tyrone led 0-3 to 0-2.

With the weather deteriorating both sides made numerous mistakes but Tyrone coped best to add two further points from Niamh O’Neill and Emma Brennan to send Gerry Moane’s side in leading by three at the break.

Tyrone made the perfect start to the second half with a goal from Aoibhean Mc Hugh but Clare responded with a fine point from the boot of Fidelma Marrinan. Caitlin Kelly added another Tyrone point but Clare were growing into the game and  hit the next three scores courtesy of Tara Kelly and Grainne Nolan (2) to reduce the gap to three.

Caitlin Kelly judged the wind perfectly before Niamh O ‘Neill took a high ball on the edge of the square, created space out of nothing and finished to the net. With time running out Clare might have been forgiven for throwing in the towel but The Banner girls responded with a goal of their own from Nolan with five minutes left to give them hope.

Tyrone had to dig deep but with Joanne Barrett, Niamh Mc Girr and Neamh Woods working hard they saw the game out with their third goal of the day. Niamh Woods took a pass from Niamh Hughes and finished to the net after holding off the challenges of several Clare defenders.

Both teams deserve great credit for serving up a lively encounter in difficult conditions with Gerry Moane particularly pleased with the 3-7 to 1-7 result.