Ladies Suffer League Defeat Away To Tipperary

Tuesday 21.03.2023

County

LIDL NATIONAL LEAGUE

Div 2

Tipperary 2-15

Tyrone 1-7

A determined second half from Tyrone failed to upset Tipperary’s excellent division two campaign but despite  the loss they will take heart from a much improved performance through the second half as they trailed by eleven at the break. Chloe Mc Caffrey, Meabh Mallon and Grainne Rafferty worked hard throughout against a clinical Tipp with Aisling Moloney outstanding for the home side.

Moloney was back to her best but she wasn’t alone. Emma Morrisey, Anna Rose Kennedy, goalkeeper Lauren Fitzpatrick and the defence were in top form over the hour and bar a good third quarter from Tyrone when they really looked dangerous Tipp were always on top.

Inspired by powerhouse Moloney Tipp led by eleven points at the break. They bossed the half and with the breeze at their backs they coasted through although the visitors did have a glorious goal chance of their own when Meabh Mallon’s shot was turned on to the crossbar as they trailed by four.

Tipp stormed into an early lead when Anna Rose Kennedy fired over on the run. Moloney added a brace and Nessa Twoey pointed in a solid opening seven minutes before Chloe Mc Caffrey pointed after ten minutes.

Emma Morrisey and Aoife Mc Gahan swapped points before two quick fire Moloney points were followed by a well worked goal. Martin  laid off to Moloney whose deft touch off was drilled to the net by Twoey.

From the kick out Morrisey tagged on a ninth point and Tyrone looked in real trouble on 22 minutes. Mc Gahan and English exchanged points and Mc Vey made a great stop to deny Morrisey but as the half approached the break Moloney should have netted but settled for a point and O’Dwyer put her side twelve ahead with an angled point with Rafferty tagging  on Tyrone’s fourth point on the whistle.

A much improved Tyrone dominated the third quarter, with the wind at their backs they pressed into several attacks with Aoibheann Mc Hugh and Mallon more and more affective. Rafferty added a point and as they settled well into the task Tyrone were right back in the contest when Mc Hugh and Mallon worked the ball in for Mc Caffrey to drill to the net to close the gap to seven points with 37 minutes played.

This was a much improved Tyrone, Meave Corrigan, Emma Jane Gervin  and Emma Hegarty the ball moving more and more against a well drilled home defence and substitute Sasha Byrne went close for a goal with Fitzpatrick doing well at her feet, a goal then would have dramatically changed the contest.

At this stageTyrone carried a real threat. Rafferty and Mc Caffrey went close but it was the home side who got to grips again, their defence so assured. Moloney pulled a point back and  as Bryne went close there was no mistake from Moloney. Kennedy’s long high ball was flicked over the head of Mc Vey to the Tyrone net by the experienced attacker. In a low scoring contest Tyrone tried their best to get back in the game but there was no doubting the difference in quality and as Rafferty tagged on two further Tyrone points it was Tipp who looked capable of more scores. Morrisey went close for a goal but both her and Moloney were snuffed out by good defending although Morrissey finished with a late brace of injury time points as Tipperary ran out convincing winners, leaving Tyrone still on just two wins.

Tipperary Scorers: Aishling Moloney 1-6, Neasa Twoey1-1, Emma Morrissey 0-4 Cliona O’Dwyer  0-2 Ann Rose Kennedy 0-1, Clara English 0-1

Tyrone Scorers: Grainne Rafferty 0-4, Chloe Mc Caffrey 1-1, Aoife Mc Gahan 0-2