Senior Ladies In Impressive Win

Monday 19.06.2023

County

Tyrone 4-16

Offaly 1-7

A rampant Tyrone look assured of a quarter final spot in the all Ireland series following a top notch performance at O’Neills Healy Park on Sunday. Playing all the football the Red Hands ability to mix their play throughout the contest saw them score at will, defend with confidence and dominate Offaly who rarely threatened.

Aoibhinn Mc Hugh led from the front for Tyrone tagging on 1-3  but also being a key playmaker as Maria Canavan hit several fine points and Sasha Byrne rattled in two goals as nine players and all the forwards scored for the hosts. Positive signs for an ever improving Tyrone who also gave Omagh minor Emer Mc Canny her senior debut.

Offaly got off to a flyer after Mc Hugh landed an early Tyrone point, Sarah Doyle creating space and firing to Sarah Mc Vey’s net within four minutes. A set back for the home side although they quickly regrouped as the nard working Aoife Mc Gahan created and scored a tidy point.

Offaly led 1-1 to two points when Roisin Cockram dropped over a free, but that was as good as it got for them, Mc Vey made a fine stop to deny Emma Hand and even a missed penalty from Canavan, after Aoife Horisk had been fouled, failed to rock Tyrone. The opening fourteen minutes had to be fair was nip and tuck, Tyrone though were always capable of finding another gear.

The game changed as Mc Hugh nipped in for a goal after Grainne Rafferty’s probing ball fell short and the captain was on hand. 2-5 without reply in the second quarter from an on fire Tyrone sealed this one though.

Sasha Byrne added 1-2, Emma Hegarty 1-0, Grainne Rafferty 0-2 and Canavan’s point eased Tyrone 3-7 to 1-1 ahead with a late Doyle point all the Faithfull offered by the break. Four points were on the board before Byrne sent her effort to the top corner after great quick ball through the centre and within a minute Hegarty found the net again, her second in this year’s  championship just shy of the break as they led by eleven points after Rafferty steered over her second of the game.

Offaly needed a good second half start and they certainly carried the ball early on but they were rocked back within six minutes as Mc Hugh was provider for Byrne as she got on the end of the ball to roll it past Kelly Cunningham. The visitors were on the back foot and the keeper was tested several times as Tyrone turned up the heat. Cockram did manage to tag on a free but the response certainly did not come.

In one of the best spells of Tyrone football in several years they kept the scoreboard turning. Canavan, Mc Hugh, Mc Gahan, Gervin, and Horisk all hit points and that meant all the attackers had found the target by the fiftieth  minute with Offaly’s response down to trying to hold off the hosts. Running the bench Tyrone made several changes, youngster Mc Canny, veteran Niamh Hughes and returning from injury Emma Mulgrew among the players to get game time.

Canavan tagged on a brace and Hughes also pointed on the run before a late flurry of Offaly scores, Aoife Kelly, Cockram and Hand scoring consolation points on a day best forgotten by them. It was apt that player of the match Mc Hugh wrapped up the scoring at the end with her third point.

A fine performance from Tyrone. Their defence looked assured throughout with so many positives as they face Clare next weekend with the top spot in the group up for grabs although they will go into what will be a tougher outing with plenty of confidence.

Tyrone Scorers: Sasha Byrne 2-2, Aoibhinn Mc Hugh 1-3, Maria Canavan 0-4,Emma Hegarty 1-0, Grainne Rafferty 0-2, Aoife Mc Gahan 0-2, Emma Jane Gervin, Aoife Horisk and Niamh Hughes 0-1 each