Ladies Suffer Meath Defeat

Sunday 26.01.2020

County

Tyrone 2-6 Meath 2-14

Tyrone found themselves on the receiving end of an opening day league loss on the 3G pitch at Dunganny on Sunday as Meath eased to an eight point win over a Red Hand side that got off to a horrendous start. Despite a spirited second half display that saw Niamh O’Neill hit 2-2 in five minutes, Tyrone’s poor first half had done the damage. Only at times did the team show any of the quality they are so capable of.

Meath led 2-6 to 0-3 by half time as an experienced Tyrone side appeared shell shocked at times. They were rocked back on their heels with the intensity of an Emma Duggan inspired home side with Viki Wall also leading the line well. Meath struck for an early 1-1. Duggan , who finished with 0-10, the bulk from frees, dropped over the point which was added to by a Lynch goal. Tyrone’s scores came from 0’Neill 0-2 and the returning Grainne Rafferty but they lacked penetration up front while at the back they found the mobility of the Meath forwards too hot to handle. Indeed just before the break Bennett found the net again. Emma Mulgrew and Niamh Mc Girr worked overtime in trying to stem the tide during that first half with skipper Neamh Woods and Emma Jane Gervin battling hard at centrefield.

A half time talking to and reshuffle prompted an improved second half and Tyrone upped the tempo. Christiane Hunter, a first half defensive change and second half substitutes, among them Emma Hegarty. Siobhan Sheerin and Dearbhle Gallagher all made an impact. A bit of the old swagger was back and but for a handful of top quality saves Tyrone would have been back in contention. O’Neill, Emma Brennan and Mc Girr saw chances saved by Monica McGurk , the Meath keeper making a great double save to deny Mc Girr, Tyrone by now winning every ball and creating a hatful of chances.

Scores though came the way of Meath. Duggan again from the dead ball was accurate and as the game hit the final quarter Meath were fourteen points clear. Yet Tyrone were quickly back to within five points as O’Neill finished well to the net after good work by Neamh Woods while a Woods high ball was also steered past Mc Gurk moments later by the Sperrin Og attacker. Gallagher and O’Neill also added points but that was as close as Tyrone would come.

Meath tagged on late points as they eased to the win. The defeat was summed up by Tyrone boss Gerry Moane as one of Tyrone’s own doing: “We were so poor in the first half. We left good preparation behind us in Tyrone. The  players who came in changed things but the damage had already been done. We have to learn from this. We are better than that and the players know what is expected.mthat was not good enough from us in that first half”

All in all a testing afternoon for Tyrone who only played in fits and starts. They know they must up their game for next weekend as they head to Silverbridge to take on a fancied Armagh side.